A couple who have taken over their second Kent restaurant say they hope to attract visitors from all over the world.

The Dogan family are behind new Italian Bella Vita, which has opened inside the former Dover Patrol restaurant along the seafront and next to Dover Sea Sports Centre.

It is the second Kent restaurant launched by husband and wife team, Hasan and Lucia, who also run Bella Vita in Folkestone.

The opened their first eatery in Hackney, London, 13 years ago, before venturing to the county in 2017.

Following their success in Folkestone, they saw a golden opportunity when the Dover Patrol went on the market and snapped it up after their first visit.

After just five days of renovation, which Mr Dogan says saw him painting through the night, the family welcomed their first customers in September.

Mr Dogan, 50, said: “My aim is to attract customers from New York and Canada in the future. It’s going to be a unique restaurant.

“We already have customers from France, Spain and Italy.

“I want them to come here especially. We’ve had that in Folkestone so we think people from everywhere will come to Dover.”

Mr Dogan’s Italian wife, Lucia, told of when the pair first opened in London.

“We have a passion for good food and enjoying what we are making,” she said.

“Hasan found the Hackney premises in 2010. It was empty and needed a lot of work.

“It has been a success since it opened.

“Our London restaurant has been the inspiration behind Bella Vita Folkestone, and now Bella Vita Dover.”

The family were visiting friends in Folkestone when they spotted what is now their first Kent Bella Vita restaurant and said despite it needing a lot of work, they were not put off.

Mr Dogan said: “It had been closed for 20 years so we went ahead and spent some money.

“You have to put so much energy and hard work into business to get somewhere.

“It was tricky when we first opened in Folkestone but people soon learnt we were there. We know some people who have moved from London to Folkestone; it is a popular location.”

When it came to buying Dover Patrol, the couple - who still live in London - knew instantly it was meant to be.

“It’s close to France and Europe and the view is stunning,” Mrs Dogan said.

“Kent also offers a mix of countryside and the seaside, which we love.

“We saw the potential because the town is nice but there are not many food places.

“We saw a gap in the market for good food at reasonable prices.”

Mr Dogan added: “The unique setting of The Esplanade took my heart.

“I believe Dover, with its stunning coastal views, the castle, being the closest location to Europe, offers big potential for businesses to develop and invest into.

“It’s a destination point and I want people from everywhere to come to our restaurant.”

Dover Patrol was owned by Turrloo Parrett, who is also behind Eastwell Manor in Ashford, but he decided to sell up earlier this year.

Mr Dogan says they did not know much about Dover Patrol when they bought it, but said he was confident he wanted to completely redecorate inside.

“Bella Vita Dover is a bit different to Bella Vita Folkestone and there is a different menu,” he said.

“We may also do pizza outside in the summer. We wanted this one to be a bit more upmarket and trendy.

“So far, it has been good. In the second week, the Dover Mayor booked for 70 people to come here and they were so happy.”

Before opening the restaurant in London, Mr Dogan ran a small coffee shop.

“I went step by step and was more into small businesses at the start,” he said.

“But when I decided to open the restaurant in London, that’s when we thought it was going to be hard but we put our energy in and it paid off.

“The minute we opened in Broadway Market, there was a queue outside – I was doing a double shift every day. It has become famous now.”

Mr Dogan added that some people thought they would not survive in Folkestone as there were lots of shut shops when they opened up.

But, the pair say the investment at Folkestone Harbour Arm recently has helped their business.

Mrs Dogan added she knows there will be investment in Dover too which they are excited for.

The Dover restaurant is the last on the horizon for the family for now but they did say “never say never”.

In the summer, Mr Dogan is hoping to offer takeaway coffee and pizza at the front of the restaurant.