Latin American chain Las Iguanas has announced an official opening date for its newest restaurant, bringing the franchise to Kent for the first time.

The business, described as a "casual dining chain", first revealed plans to launch in Canterbury city centre back in May.

With finishing touches being made to the building in Longmarket, bosses are now taking bookings for the restaurant ahead of its opening on September 26.

Las Iguanas replaces Café Rouge, which closed down after its owners, the Casual Dining Group, entered administration in July 2020.

The Casual Dining Group would later be bought by Big Table Group, which planned an investment of more than £50 million to open 50 new restaurants and renovate 70 more around the country.

Big Table Group’s portfolio includes Las Iguanas and Bella Italia, which has sites in Gillingham, Broadstairs and Dover.

“Las Iguanas has consistently proven to be an extremely popular choice with consumers,” chief executive Alan Morgan explained last year.

“Now is the perfect time to grow the brand across the country, targeting high footfall locations in major towns and city centres.”

Customers can expect to experience a mix of Mexican, Argentinian and Brazilian cuisine, with enchiladas, tacos, nachos and fajitas all featuring prominently on the menu. The restaurant also offers bottomless brunches and a cocktail club.

With the promise of "Latin vibes", its website reveals: “Our restaurants take their influence from South American artisans with elements of Latin design and materials throughout, and Las Iguanas Canterbury will be no exception.”

The website also advertises job vacancies in Canterbury, with roles for a Chef de Partie and a Commis Chef available.

This newest addition joins a long list of new restaurants in Canterbury, with multiple businesses offering various styles of cuisine popping up. Sourdough pizza restaurant Franco Manca appeared in the former Costa Coffee site in Guildhall Street earlier this year.

Since then, the city has seen the arrival of steakhouse Herd on St Peter’s Street. This was accompanied by Socialite, a rooftop restaurant above the city's Hampton by Hilton hotel in St Margaret's Street.

Cosy Club, which prides itself on grand interiors and table service, has also appeared in St Margaret’s Street and Po’Boys, a New-Orleans style sandwich shop, has replaced the West Cornwall Pasty Company on the High Street. Plans are in place for Tortilla, a Mexican restaurant, to replace the empty Sta Travel unit on the High Street.