A seafood restaurant has added another string to its bow with the opening of a new wine bar.

The spot has been added to the first floor above the Rocksalt restaurant in Folkestone, which overlooks the English Channel, and has views of the popular harbour area.

The new venue is now open to residents and visitors and has been described as the “ideal date night destination”.

It will include a wide range of sparkling wine by the glass or still wines in various sizes and will feature industry-leading Kentish vineyards such as Gusbourne, Simpsons, Heppington and Terlingham.

Jack Nimmons, Rocksalt boss and resident wine expert, said: “The wine has been carefully curated and focuses on old world continental wine regions whilst also featuring direct relations with a wide range of local growers and producers in Kent.

“Where possible, wines with organic, biodynamic, sustainable and small production credentials, while still retaining superb quality, have been featured across the list.”

The new wine bar will also come with its own menu, exclusively for upstairs, featuring Maldon oysters offered up in four different ways.

The site used to be home to a cocktail bar and has been given an “expensive refit”.

Bosses at the restaurant say that wine bars in London are going through something of a “renaissance” and want to change the focus of their bar towards wine.

However, they have confirmed they will still serve cocktails to customers.

As well as this, it will serve toasties & buns, classic bar dishes, seasonal salads and charcuterie boards showcasing the “finest local Kentish cured meats and cheese”.

The Rocksalt Wine Bar will be open on Wednesdays from Midday until 5pm, Thursdays from Midday until 11pm and Fridays and Saturdays from Midday until Midnight.

Rocksalt originally opened in Folkestone in 2011 and in December last year was deemed to be one of the best with a view in the country by The Times.

It holds two AA Rosettes as well as being listed on the Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice list in 2022.

It opened a smaller sister restaurant, Little Rock, at the harbour arm in 2021.

But last year, Rocksalt was snubbed by the Michelin Guide, having lost its place on the coveted list of celebrated dining spots.

Despite having featured in previous renditions of the list, there was no clear answer as to why it had been left off.