FOOD & DRINK NEWS FROM AROUND KENT

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pals are to open a lakeside coffee business in a converted horsebox – named in honour of a monster carp which once graced the waters. Friends Nick Davis and Adam Heustice came up with the idea for the new venture during lockdown when they realised the lack of food and drink options at Conningbrook Lakes, Ashford. They decided to take the name Two Tones on the Lake in memory of the fish of the same name who weighed in at a staggering 67lb 14oz and was for a time the largest carp in the country. Adam said: “We started in September so it’s taken from then to convert the horsebox, to get planning permission to get to the opening now. We are very happy with how it turned out. It looks stunning.” la

pub that had been closed for three years has finally reopened – as its new landlords vow to establish it as a valued village boozer. Pints were poured for the first time since 2019 at The Chequers Inn, at Petham, near Canterbury,y, last week. The relaunch came aftera residents feared the pub could be gone for good, when plans to transform it into a house were lodged with the council. But new landlords Steve Mchugh and Paula Gilbert now hope to make it popular once again, by serving traditional pub grub plus Sunday carveries. “We saw it was on the market, thought it was really nice, viewed it and went for it,” Steve said. “We’re trying to turn it back into your traditional village pub, where you can come in to have a decent meal and drink. It’s quite a relief for the village to be able to have a pub again.”

la new restaurant with a jazz bar and snack van is welcoming its first customers after opening close to Ashford International station. Cappadocia, which is just off the ring road, will be serving traditional Turkish food in the main building as well as on its terrace where there is space for about 100 people. The building will also host a jazz bar – which the owner, Serkan Gungor believes will be the town’s first of its kind. “I’ve also decided to reopen the van as a snack bar,” said Serkan. “There are businesses and offices all around, and so it will serve tea, coffee, snacks and more from 8am to 2pm.”

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for a wine restaurant in a village already home to three pubs have been given the go-ahead. The old Skippers eatery, opposite the Plough and Harrow Inn in Bridge, near Canterbury, has been empty for years following its closure. Under its new lease of life, it will be called the Wine Rooms, with the neighbouring garage also being converted into a dining space. The restaurant is set to close at 11.30pm six days a week, and at 10.30pm on Sundays.