A new bar is set to open in the next fortnight on the site of a former high street restaurant.

Businessman Mehmet Dari, who owns popular chain A La Turka, bought the Cow Shed in Herne Bay towards the end of last year after it was put on the market for £59,950.

The restaurant closed in August after trading in the centre of Herne Bay for the past four years.

In its place Mr Dari will open a bar serving a variety of drinks - including draught beer, cocktails and gins - called Grapevine.

“We’ve got a few restaurants in Canterbury, Herne Bay and Ramsgate and thought Herne Bay needed a nice chill-out bar,” he said.

“That’s why we decided to take over in November.

“We could have opened this soon after we bought it, but we wanted to get it nicer.

“We’ve put a lot of labour into this – it wasn’t like we clicked our fingers and it was done.

“We have a huge garden here, but I spent a lot of time doing it up.

“There was a lot of garbage in it, like wood floorboards, beer barrels and carpets.

“Hopefully it’ll be ready to open in two weeks’ time.”

The premises will be open from 10am until midnight everyday.

It will have a downstairs drinking area and a large garden equipped with an outdoor bar and seats.

Mr Dari says he may also install outdoor heaters and a canopy for the winter months.

“This will be totally new to the town and we believe it will be successful,” he added.

“We won’t have big meals; we’ll serve cheeseboards, dry meats and mezzes. We’re offering customers small plates so they can come and enjoy their drinks in a relaxed environment.

“The prices will be local prices – they won’t be too much higher or lower.”

If Grapevine proves to be a success, Mr Dari says he might look to establish branches elsewhere in the district.

It will be the second bar to open in the Bay in recent months after Captain Jack’s in Central Parade started trading in September.

Read more: All the latest news from Herne Bay.