A new micro-distillery planned for an industrial estate is set to bring “something fresh” to the English alcohol market.

Ashford businessman Janak Rai says Kodoko Gin will produce unique Nepalese flavours that hail from his homeland.

He has submitted plans to Ashford Borough Council to establish the micro-distillery at a unit on the Southdown Enterprise Park on Cobbs Wood industrial estate.

The now-empty site, in Brunswick Road, previously housed a printing and press company, but has been unused since the end of May.

Mr Rai says he is looking forward to bringing the drinks to the town.

“We are in the preparatory phase at the moment so it will be two or three months before we begin production – but we will be looking to bring something fresh for people to try," he said.

"The spiced spirits that we will be making are native to Nepal, and we see it as very much an appreciation of the British-Nepalese friendship that goes back as far as the military in 1815.

“My father also served in the British Army so I know how close the friendship between the two countries is.

"I know that the Nepalese people here do sometimes miss their drinks from home so I hope for them it will be a really nice reminder, but I also hope it will serve as an opportunity for everyone else to try something of the Nepalese culture.”

If granted permission, the application would allow Kodoko to install equipment in the industrial unit to process the grain to produce alcohol, which would then be flavoured and bottled.

Mr Rai – who also runs the Global Bullion Vault safety deposit box company in Bank Street – says the drinks will initially be sold in local shops.

“You will be able to get it from the Cash and Carry grocery shop in the Lower High Street, and a few other places,” he explained.

The application is awaiting a decision.