Bosses of a newly-opened jazz bar say its blues-themed presence will make a town's nightlife come alive.

The Grapevine has opened its doors in Tenterden more than two months after plans were first announced.

The champagne and jazz bar replaces the former Savannah Coffee Shop in the town centre which called it a day after 14 years at The Cellars premises.

However, The Grapevine has now announced itself to towners with its chic music scene.

Featuring an art nouveau interior style and signature red lightning as part of an £80k revamp, owner Oliver Kinsley insists the site is now "unrecognisable".

The 24-year-old said: "The refurb has been really good and changed it massively.

"The whole place has been flipped upside down and redone, including knocking down and putting up new walls, changing the décor, the landing and all the tables and chairs.

"We have also moved the kitchen into another room, tidied up everywhere outside and created a bar too.

"So The Grapevine doesn't look anything like Savannah's anymore as it is completely unrecognisable."

The company already has an existing venue in Rye, meaning its new branch will be the second on its books.

Mr Kinsley, who first managed the East Sussex bar in 2019, left the bistro during the pandemic to set-up a digital marketing company.

After the former Open University student then “got very lucky” with the business, he decided to purchase The Grapevine having found a business partner in 54-year-old Peter Ockenden.

And having opened his Tenterden venture on Wednesday (August 7), he says he feels proud to have one of just a handful of Kent's jazz bars in his ranks.

"I think The Grapevine will add to Tenterden's nightlife and offer something different to all of the locals," the former Tenterden resident added.

"We're not going to really do any beer but instead focus on quality cocktails and fine wines.

"So with our entire theme being jazz - that alone is unique in itself for a countryside town.

"I believe there's a jazz-themed place in Dover, but there are none elsewhere which I know about.

"We're [also] aiming to set up another bar within three years in somewhere like Canterbury or Tunbridge Wells."

The Grapevine is to employ between 10 and 15 staff and will trade until around 1am once its opening hours are confirmed.

Mr Kinsley says guests will see more than 30 musicians, including jazz stars TJ Johnson, when they visit.

He continued: “Offering a bit more food is also something we’re aiming to do, such as some Mediterranean-inspired light bites.

“So it will primarily be a bar but with a bit of a bistro set-up.

“We plan to do live jazz and blues music most evenings and certainly on weekends.”