A new food delivery service is set to launch in Tunbridge Wells - taking off courtesy of two former airline pilots.

Bumblebee aims to take on the might of the likes of Just Eat and Deliveroo - but offering a better deal for the restaurants using its services.

Launching on May 26, it has already signed exclusive deals with six outlets in the town: Lago Bar & Restaurant, Fat Sam's Fried Chicken, Kitsu Sushi & Noodle Bar, Kai's Kitche, Estro Pizza & More and Roddy Burger.

And it says more will be added over the coming weeks.

The brainchild of former airline pilot Alex Betteridge and his co-founder, fellow pilot Tom Melia, the operation aims to be a "community-focused online ordering and delivery service" that supports local restaurants, takeaways, shops and pubs, initially delivering within a 2.5 mile radius of central Tunbridge Wells.

Mr Betteridge was made redundant during the pandemic, switching roles to working within a local restaurant where he realised how the lockdown had seen a surge in takeaway delivery and how eateries in the area were reliant on it for survival but couldn’t afford the high commissions charged by the big delivery companies.

Deliveroo and Just East charge around a 30% commission on foods ordered on their apps and delivered by their team.

Mr Betteridge explained: "We conducted extensive market research in Tunbridge Wells which demonstrated that local retailers were fed up of paying over-inflated commission rates to established delivery companies.

"Bumblebee was founded to offer an online app-based ordering and delivery platform with costs that are significantly lower so retailers don’t lose such a huge margin. We live by our vision ‘to be the best not the biggest’.

"Our retailers are able to take more sales, protect more of their income, have a dedicated local account manager to support them and have the backing of a social media and marketing team working hard to promote their products and services.

"Our drivers feel valued, have a secured earning fee per delivery and are supported by local management.”

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