They might stand accused of having too many cooks but a pair of Bradford businessmen are seeking no fewer than 20,000 people to help them start a restaurant.

Paul Brook and Daniel Moran, both of Eccleshill, were inspired to create run yourownrestaurant.com after seeing a similar scheme successfully forming a football club.

They aim to fund the restaurant through the investors paying a £29.99 registration fee, with the first 1,000 able to register for free. Each investor will earn the right to take part in a weekly vote on how to run the business for two years during which time they will also get a share of the profits.

Mr Moran, 32, who works as a dealer principal at a car dealership, said: “What we are trying to do is get people online to show some interest in the scheme before we ask for any money.

“What we will do then with that money is open a restaurant but they will have democratic control of the restaurant.

“So we will get the background information for them and then they will make a decision.

“Rather than putting it out there and letting them do it for a bit of fun, we are going to give them a share of any profit the restaurant makes after we have paid the bills and the staff and everything.”

When the two-year scheme is up Mr Doran and Mr Brook, 31, an astrophysics masters student at the University of Leeds, will take control of the business.

Mr Doran said: “Those taking part are buying the right to vote rather than to own part of the restaurant, so they are not liable for any costs or anything.

“We want people, and we think it will appeal to people, who are passionate about it.”

To register an interest visit runyourownrestaurant.com.