A popular town centre Gurkha restaurant has reopened after an expansion into the neighbouring music store.

Namaste Nepalese Cuisine - formerly known as the Gurkha Kitchen - in Week Street, Maidstone, doubled in size after plans to take over the vacant Music Matters store were approved.

The eatery, close to Maidstone East Railway Station, now boasts 20 more seats, a new toilet and an expanded kitchen.

It has employed two more staff, brining its total to nine.

It was closed for nearly a month to work on the site.

Director Anish Prajapati said the expansion has come at a good time for them, despite the cost of living crisis, as they were being forced to turn people away.

He said: "We are okay during the week but at the weekend it’s so busy we don’t have any space.

“Music Matters decided to close during the pandemic and we spoke with the landlord about taking it over and expanding.

“We took over the restaurant at the beginning of the year when it was the Gurkha Restaurant and it already had a good reputation which has helped out.

"We have the same chef and staff as before which has helped.”

The restaurant, which was previously called the Gurkha Restaurant, underwent a refurb and name change in June after customers were getting confused between them and the Gurkha Kitchen next to Maidstone West Railway Station, just a mile away.

Namaste Nepalese Cuisine reopened officially re-opened last Thursday at a time when many businesses are struggling with the rise in energy prices.

Many other Asian-based restaurants in the county have revealed their concerns at the increases, claiming they may have to close or up prices just to survive.