Many couples will be heading for a romantic Valentine's Day meal together next month, but one restaurant in Kent is offering that little bit extra - an evening with Pop Idol star Gareth Gates.

The singer, who shot to fame on the popular ITV reality show in 2002, narrowly losing out to winner Will Young, will be in Maidstone on February 14 to perform an acoustic set at Pizza Express Live.

The 35-year-old has enjoyed a successful career since, selling 3.5 million records in the UK alone, after releasing three albums and four number one singles.

This has been achieved while he has battled his well-publicised stutter, for which he underwent speech therapy and has now trained to become a qualified course instructor.

Now, Gareth is set to swing by the Earl Street venue in the County Town for a special Valentine's Day performance.

Tickets are still available for the event, as well as VIP packages featuring premium seats, a meet and greet and photo and autograph with the star.

It will not be Gareth's first visit to Maidstone either, after undergoing a hair transplant at the town's KSL clinic in 2017.

He admitted at the time that suffering hair loss has dented his confidence so badly he has been forced to hide under hats for years.

Doors for the event at Pizza Express Live on February 14 open at 7pm for an 8.30pm start.

Tickets, which are selling at £30, are available to buy here.

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone