A small independent cafe in West Malling has been rated among the top 10% of restaurants in the world by users of Tripadvisor.

The online travel company that allows customers to post reviews of the places they have visited contacted Jenny Lonergan, the owner of Bean Rush, a gourmet sandwich and coffee shop in King Street, to tell her that her clients had consistently given her exceptionally good views - and no bad ones.

Mrs Lonergan, who started Bean Rush eight years ago, said: "It was a complete surprise, but obviously a very welcome one!"

She said: "We are all about service, price and product."

Before becoming a cafe owner, Mrs Lonergan used to breed pigs and sell at farmers markets, and she has taken that love of fresh local food with her.

She said: "We always try to source local products - we use jams from Maidstone, chutneys from Hempstead near Gillingham, eggs from Cranbrook and bread from Orpington."

She said: "I'm humbled by the award and it's very cheering news for the whole of West Malling in these troubling times."

Usually the Bean Rush can seat 16 people, but because of Covid, Mrs Lonergan is able to run only a take-away service at present.

She said: "Our grade ll listed building is simply too small to allow seating and maintain social distancing."

The shop currently employs two part-time staff and two Saturday workers. It is open from Tuesday till Saturday, from 8am till 2pm.

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