Cafe owners have defended their plan to serve alcohol and open later after a neighbour claimed they were "watching the world around us become gentrified".

The Nook, in Folkestone - described on the Creative Quarter's website as a “couple-run quirky cafe” - opened at its Tontine Street premises in July 2020.

The venue had been operating as a regular day-time cafe but has now had a premises licence approved.

It means alcohol can be served until 10.30pm seven days a week, half an hour before closing time.

And despite the changes, the owners say they do not wish to disturb their neighbours.

It follows fears from one neighbour who wrote to the council expressing concerns of disruption to those living nearby.

The mum said the extension said the area at the back of the cafe was too near homes and would lead excessive noise and problems for people living nearby, especially young children.

She wrote: “The noise caused by the loud music, inebriated and sober people alike standing outside talking/shouting will undoubtedly be disruptive.

"There are still many residents living on Tontine Street, [who] are usually low income, single parents, immigrants or all of the above.

"[They] therefore do not have the means to relocate.

"So it becomes particularly upsetting when no thought is given to our quality of life.

"I'm sure all the people who attend these venues have a lovely time but for those of us who are trapped in poor quality housing, without the funds to be a part of the noise, watching the world around us become gentrified as we become forgotten and unconsidered is really very galling."

However, The Nook’s co-owner Eleanor Canter, took issue with the objection.

Speaking after the meeting she said: “We aren’t gentrifying the local area - we’re from Folkestone and our main customers are local residents, and we’re reasonably priced, so I wouldn’t say we’re gentrifying the area at all.

“I don’t think that’s what gentrification is, that’s when you drive out local people, and you come in from somewhere else.

“We mainly just wanted to serve alcohol with lunches in our normal opening hours.

“We weren’t planning on opening a nightclub, we know all the people who live above us and around us, and obviously we wouldn’t want to disturb them.”

Originally The Nook owners had also requested permission for live music, but this was later withdrawn.

In his application, co-owner James Canter told Folkestone & Hythe District Council (FHDC): “We would like to host semi-regular live music events at the café.

“These would most likely be held bi-weekly from the licence starting.

“Primarily these events would be held indoors, however if weather is good enough in summer evenings would like to have events also held in the courtyard.”

But speaking after the meeting, he said: “The request for music licensing was just to diversify the offer of the cafe a bit as a way to bring in some increased revenue during the cost of living crisis, but wasn’t the main purpose of the licence.

“Primarily it was for the sale of alcohol, and music would have been a plus."

FHDC’s licensing sub-committee voted to grant the licence for alcohol sales and recorded music and late opening hours at a meeting on January 12.

The cafe is situated in Folkestone's thriving Creative Quarter, which is home to numerous bars, restaurants and independent shops.

It is next door to the Quarterhouse arts venue, which hosts regular live music and other performances.