The owners of a new Korean restaurant want to breathe new life into a struggling part of a town centre.

Seoul Sarang opened in New Rents, Ashford, on Sunday in a move bosses insist will increase footfall.

Business partners Gyanju Sherpa and Pratik Chahar are unfazed by the empty storefronts becoming an increasingly familiar sight in the area - and have been buoyed by an “incredibly positive” reaction from customers.

Mr Sherpa, 33, told KentOnline: “We know that we can’t rejuvenate the whole high street on our own but at least it will bring some sort of new identity.

“We want to show people that the area is not dead like they think it is.”

It comes as six shops in New Rents are set to be knocked down to make way for a 92-bed hotel, which Mr Sherpa describes as a “great business opportunity”.

“It will bring new visitors to this part of Ashford, and we’re optimistic that some of them will come to us,” he said.

“We are the only restaurant in the town like this.”

Seoul Sarang is located in the former Aji Japanese restaurant.

Mr Sherpa, who lives in Ashford, added: “The layout was perfectly suited for us, which made it easier to set up.

“The area itself is nice and quiet, which creates a peaceful environment for our customers to enjoy their time here.

“We’ve only been open a few days, but the reaction has been really positive.

“We hope that we can bring people not only to our restaurant, but the whole of Ashford.”

Plans for a three to four-star hotel in the town were first put forward by developers SPPF Ltd in July 2020 and approved two years later.

Wooden hoardings surrounding the site were put up in February but were taken down two months later as the development continued to be impacted by delays resulting from water quality issues with the Stodmarsh Nature Reserve near Canterbury.

Work has never progressed but a new application to demolish six retail units in the street was submitted to Ashford Borough Council (ABC) in October.

One of the units set to be knocked down is the old Argos building which was taken over by Home Needs Furniture last month.

But owner Sam David says this is not an issue as his store is only temporary while he tests the market in Ashford.

The 41-year-old from London explained: “The landlord said it would be knocked down in about a year's time and that is long enough to judge whether this is a good or a bad area.”

Elsewhere in the town, a vacant high street unit which served as a travel agents for almost 40 years could become a new Asian-themed restaurant.

Plans have been submitted to Ashford Borough Council (ABC) for a new Kokoro eatery.

If approved, the proposal would see the 18th century and Grade II-listed building become Kokoro's latest sushi-themed venue.