An opening date for a new Thai restaurant taking the place of an Italian eatery has been announced.

The Giggling Squid will finally be coming to the town on Monday, May 2, seven years after plans were scrapped.

Opening next month at the former Ask Italian site in Earl Street, Maidstone, it is expected to create 40 jobs for the community.

In 2015 the Asian-based eatery was due to open in the same spot, but, instead, the site was sold to ASK.

The Italian restaurant was forced to close for good in 2020 due to coronavirus pandemic, leaving the building vacant ever since.

It comes after The Azzurri Group, which also owns Zizzi and Coco di Mama closed around 75 restaurants in its estate, with a loss of more than 1,000 jobs.

Now, the Thai restaurant - which has venues in Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells - is planning to welcome guests back with some big changes.

A spokesman explained how the site will have bold wallpaper, banquette seating across its three floors and small outdoor courtyard seating.

Builders are currently on site at the town centre venue which joins a range of other restaurants in Earl Street.

The restaurant promises guests dishes with "authentic Thai ingredients" that explores the country's richness of natural ingredients.