A Vietnamese street food chain is set to open its first branch in Kent, quickly snatching up the former home of popular burger bar 7Bone in Canterbury.

Pho is hoping to take over the now-vacant Burgate property near the Cathedral following the fast food firm's abrupt departure last week.

Documents submitted to the city council show plans to offer punters outdoor seating and open from 11am to 11pm seven days a week.

It comes just days after 7Bone suddenly announced it was closing its doors, citing "factors beyond its control".

A spokesperson for Pho said the firm was unable to comment on the plans yet, but confirmed contracts are set to be signed in the coming weeks.

It is not yet known when the eatery is expected to open, but papers show signage for the restaurant could be erected in May.

Pho was formed in 2005 by Stephen and Juliette Wall after they became inspired by the dish pho, a soup consisting of broth, rice noodles, herbs and meat, during a trip to Vietnam.

Pronounced 'fuh', it is the national dish of the Southeast Asian country and has roots dating back to the early 1900s.

Having been in business for 18 years, the chain now boasts 36 sites in locations including Bristol, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Manchester, as well as nine London branches.

Its menu includes curries, Vermicelli and wok-fried noodles, nine types of pho and a vegan range.

It would be the firm's first branch in Kent, and join a long list of eateries to set up in the city in recent months.

In September, Latin American chain Las Iguanas opened its doors after filling the gap left by Cafe Rouge in the city centre.

It has been followed by Italian Mirabella, Mexican franchise Tortilla and Detroit-style pizza parlour Square Peg.

And earlier this month, plans were revealed to convert the former Burton in the heart of the city into a three-storey restaurant.

7Bone opened its doors in September 2021, replacing Byron Burger, and quickly became a favourite for foodies and students in the city.

KentOnline reporter Brad Harper described a Wotsit-filled burger offered by 7Bone as the best he’d had in years in his Eat My Words review that month.

In a statement released on March 20, 7Bone announced it would be moving out of the city after 18 months.

"For reasons totally outside of our control, we are truly sorry to announce the closure of our Canterbury restaurant," a spokesman said last week.

"We'd like to thank you all for dining with us, your support and of course thank our amazing team."

The brand, which currently operates 10 sites countrywide, also confirmed it was on the lookout for a new location in the city and encouraged fans to "watch this space”.

The Canterbury closure came less than six months after the chain closed its other Kent restaurant in Maidstone for good.

It had previously cited "staff shortages" as the reason why it unexpectedly shut up shop in the county town in July last year, a measure that was expected to be temporary at the time.

Lisa Carlson, CEO of Canterbury BID (Business Improvement District) told KentOnline the news shows "how desirable Canterbury is for new businesses".

She said: "To hear that Pho have immediately taken over the space of 7Bone highlights how desirable Canterbury is for new businesses, which is also evident in the 41 new openings over the last 12 months.

"We are also delighted to celebrate the city’s long-standing businesses including Café des Amis and Refectory Kitchen, who are celebrating 34 years and 20 years respectively, and Fenwick who are celebrating 20 years in the city.

"We very much hope that 7Bone can find another premise in the city as they are a great addition to Canterbury.

"Canterbury has very limited empty units within the city centre as many are already under offer (or in the case of Debenhams and Nasons, awaiting redevelopment) but we hope that something suitable can be found for them.

"We appreciate the challenging situation for both property owners and occupiers, not least considering we are still recovering from the pandemic, post-Brexit challenges and in the midst of an ongoing energy and inflation crisis.

"That said, visitor levels continue to grow in Canterbury where we are seeing footfall 20% higher than the national average."