A major coffee chain has confirmed plans to open its first ever 24-hour drive-thru restaurant in Kent.

Canadian-based Tim Hortons has announced it will shortly be moving into a unit vacated by Pizza Hut at the Imperial Retail Park in Gravesend.

The fast-growing chain stocks a wide range of coffee and doughnuts, as well as snacks and beverages such as toasted bagels, sandwiches and wraps.

Its Gravesend store will create 50 jobs, offering a combination of full-time and part-time roles.

The coffee shop in Thames Way will offer dine-in seating for up to 128 guests and outdoor seating for 32, with its renowned 24-7 drive-thru service available for those on-the-go.

Delivery options will also be made available to those in the local area following the launch.

A precise opening date has not yet been confirmed but fans have been told to kept their eyes peeled online.

Kevin Hydes, chief commercial officer of the UK franchise said: “It has always been our ambition to venture further into the South East and our restaurant located here in Gravesend is perfect.

"We have already received great interest from locals and we look forward to embedding ourselves within the community.

"We are confident in our growth here and are excited to be expanding our team with some fantastic talent from the area.”

The announcement comes after Pizza Hut, who had been trading from the estate since 2005, closed up shop last year amid the impact of Covid-19.

The unit was one of 29 chains across the country to cease trading permanently as bosses declared sales were not expected "to fully bounce back until well into 2021”.

Earlier this year plans were approved by Gravesham council to permit a change of use from a restaurant to a flexible takeaway with permission to sell coffee and food for consumption both on and off the premises.

Changes will also be made to the existing car park to facilitate the installation of a new drive-thru facility and the current licence hours have been extended so it can operate 24/7.

Other potential locations for the coffee joint were scouted across Gravesend including various vacant town centre units and the former Poundland in the Thamesgate Shopping Centre.

However, none were deemed suitable for its business plan due to the absence of space to instal a new drive-thru, it was claimed.

The announcement forms part of the north American brand's plan to double its estate across the country by the end of 2023. The nearest location is currently at Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex.

Tim Hortons opened its first store in the UK in 2017 and recently confirmed plans to open a drive-thru restaurant at Westwood Cross in Broadstairs.

It will be based in Margate Road- opposite the Tesco store at the Broadstairs Retail Park.