A new steakhouse is to open in Ashford town centre - only months after Miller & Carter pulled out of a nearby site.

Buenos Aires Nights Steakhouse has snapped up a unit in North Street which previously housed the Café De Paris.

The move will be the first expansion for the firm, which currently has one restaurant in Maidstone.

Owner Linda Pontoriero confirmed that, upon its launch at the beginning of April, 10 staff will be employed from around the Ashford area.

Her venture looks set to make up for the loss of a Miller & Carter steakhouse branch in Kennington, which had been set to open on scrubland off the A28 before the deal fell through last year.

Ms Pontoriero said: "We give people a happy, enjoyable atmosphere with great food and service, where people can relax and have a dining experience more than just going to eat to a place.

"The plus is the Argentinian experience.

"We have a passion for steak and wines but it's not all about meat - traditional Argentinian cuisine also includes very tasty plant based dishes.

"Already people are contacting us and leaving great feedback, telling us this is what Ashford needs as there is not another like us."

Ms Pontoriero says she is looking forward to filling the empty unit, which has sat empty since Cafe De Paris closed in June.

She added: "We're very excited to be opening in Ashford.

"Ashford is a historic place with lovely architecture and it also it has great transport links.

"High streets have been suffering all over the country, opening the restaurant will help bring people back into the town centre and this is what Ashford Borough Council (ABC) is trying to do.

"I want to be part of this great Ashford regeneration and help the council with its plans."

The 50-seat restaurant will offer tasting evenings with Argentinian sommeliers and music evenings.

Outdoor dining is also being promised by the owner.

Ms Pontoriero's venture was announced in a Facebook post only a day after Macknade opened to the public at Elwick Place.

National steakhouse chain Miller & Carter was set to open a £4m restaurant in Canterbury Road on the site of the former Houchin sports and social club.

The £4 million project would have had capacity for 170 diners, and had been approved by the council.

But despite this, the restaurant chain was unable to agree a deal with landowner Richard Gillam and Aldi was confirmed as the new buyer of the site earlier this year.

Ms Pontoriero said: "Miller & Carter is already in Maidstone and when I applied to take the Ashford premises, I knew they were planning to open in Ashford by summer 2020.

"Then its plan changed so I can't say we will make up for them.

"But we are an Argentine steakhouse which makes us different to a conventional steakhouse; we promote our culture and passion and we have fresh home-made dishes.

"Everything is done in our kitchen with quality products and we focus in steaks and wines all from Argentina.

"Among Ashford's town centre eateries there are some quieter, more rural restaurants and pubs but no one offers Buenos Aires Nights' business model - a casual Argentine steakhouse dining experience."

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