It's taken more than a year but now Medway's newest restaurant is at last preparing to welcome diners through the doors.

After being dogged by a series of delays, staff shortages and Covid lockdowns, the swish new fish eatery is finally opening.

KentOnline has been given a sneak preview of the full makeover inside Fish at 55 and Sakana at 55 – formerly Simply Italian in High Street, Rochester.

Business partners Alan Brett and Steve Pennington have been frustrated by months of hold-ups of furniture and kitchen equipment being delivered from Poland and China.

The nationwide shortage of experienced catering staff also impacted on the planned opening in September.

Like all in the hospitality sector, they were hit by last-minute cancellations over the festive period at their other premises in the town – costing them tens of thousands of pounds.

And the historic grade-II listed building itself has fallen into disrepair and needed extensive work to get it into shape.

Speaking last week, Mr Brett said: "We have not got an actual date. It could be this coming week or next. We have got to get it just right."

Spread over three floors, the building has undergone extensive refurbishment since it closed about 15 months ago.

It will employ about 30 staff including five chefs, bringing the total workforce of their businesses in the town to more than 50.

Mr Brett, 58, says the new Omicron variant of the virus and "mixed messages" from the government about going out had "decimated" his trade.

The father-of-four, who lives in Frindsbury, said: "It has been very difficult. We are honouring deposits until later in the year and we have honoured staff rotas."

The partners also run Oliver's Bar and Restaurant at the Star Hill end of the High Street, Brettington's Steak and Lobster House and the Rochester Coffee Shop.

He said: "We have been operating in the town for 11 years, so we must be doing something right.

"We have had furniture and equipment stuck in containers for months.

"But now we're on track to opening our latest restaurant, which will bring something new and different to the town."