A former nightspot is one of two venues in Kent set to be given a new lease of life thanks to a Turkish restaurant chain.

The Quarterdeck in Deal is to be taken over by Aspendos, a family run business already established in Folkestone and Dover.

Owner Necati Gunes, 44, has also announced he is taking over Shen's Mediterranean Cuisine in Bank Street, Ashford.

Having received the keys to both premises, work is already underway to renovate the kitchens to make way for their large specialist charcoal ovens.

This is with the view to opening the Ashford venue in three weeks time and the Deal restaurant in Beach Street during the first week of August.

Speaking to KentOnline, Mr Gunes said he has waited four years for the right venue to become available in Deal.

He said: "I've been waiting for a good property in a prime area. I believe Deal has got a lot of potential and we're very excited.

"We get a very high demand from people in Deal and think it could be our busiest restaurant."

It will serve a wide range of kebabs, both meat and vegetarian, and also offer a delivery service.

Similarly to Folkestone and Dover, the Deal restaurant will offer shishas outside and traditional music including live performances from violinists, saxophonists and pianists at the weekend.

Mr Gunes continued: "We've got major work going on in the kitchen.

"Everything has been ordered and we plan to be open in about four weeks, hopefully the first week of August."

The opening will create between 15-20 news jobs and recruitment is already taking place.

The Beach Street venue was once a nightclub and more recently Hythe Bay fish restaurant run by owned by Turrloo Parrett.

Including the purchase of the property, Mr Parrett invested more than £1 million into the new business, opening it in December 2016.

With an art deco interior designed by Paul Young from Ashford, the restaurant carried a blue theme with a feature wall of water behind the bar and infinity mirrors in the bathrooms.

But after a turbulent start it was rebranded in 2018 as the Quarterdeck - offering a more affordable option.

But by January 2020, its doors had closed for good with bosses announcing they "couldn't make it work".

Mr Parrett said at the time: "One has to be grown up and if it's not working, we accept that.

"I spent a huge amount of money on it - it's probably the best fitted out restaurant in Kent.

"I always like to do things well, like at Eastwell manor in Ashford."

The property was then sold to Mark Woolls, who has agreed a lease agreement with Mr Gunes.

Read more: All the latest news from Deal