The owners of one of Medway’s most popular restaurants have left to start a new dining venture.

Husband and wife team Sarah and Damon Dalmedo served their last meals at The Barn in Rainham on Saturday.

The 17th century barn in Lower Rainham Road has been sold and will become an Indian restaurant, due to open in the summer.

Mr and Mrs Dalmedo, both 43, plan to open a pop-up restaurant in the Oast Community Centre in Rainham and are also set to launch an outside catering business.

Mr Dalmedo said: “I don’t think there is anything like this around here. It’s a more of a London thing.

“We hope to keep a little bit of The Barn concept and will probably keep the name in some form.

“It will be on a first come, first served basis. We will open it up once a month at first and then if it takes off, on Fridays and Saturdays.

“We hope to have music, perhaps a bit of jazz or a pianist. We have been very lucky with our staff and some of them will be following us.”

The couple, who have three daughters, have been at The Barn for 15 years.

Mr Dalmedo said: “I feel we have done everything we can and it’s time for a new challenge.

“It’s good to have new people and new eyes.”

The family will be going on holiday before moving to a new home in Medway.

The new owners, who have not been named, are due to take over this week. It has been confirmed that its name will change.

The business went on the market with Christie & Co in September last year for £595,000.

Meanwhile work on a housing development alongside the neighbouring Three Mariners pub has started.

Planning permission has been given to build four three-bedroom homes on what was part of the pub’s car park.