The owners of a newly opened restaurant in New Romney are giving up their Christmas to provide free meals and company to vulnerable people who would otherwise spend the holidays alone.

Hazel Thetford and Fredi Papadopoulous opened The Coach House in Church Road just five months ago, replacing the former coffee shop.

Instead of closing for the festive period, the couple have decided to keep the restaurant open on Christmas Day to provide hot meals and company to homeless people and those who live alone as a way of giving back to the community.

Ms Thetford said: "We were hoping to do it last year but we’d not long bought the building and with various lockdowns, it wasn't feasible.

"Lockdown has been pretty rubbish for everyone and the idea of people being on their own is not very nice so I wanted to bring people together on Christmas Day.

"It's nice to know people will have a hot meal, but for us it's much more about knowing they will have a bit of company to break up the day because I know how long and lonely it can feel.

"The community have been so welcoming to us since we opened so it's also a way of giving back to them."

Since announcing the plans on Facebook, the restaurant has been inundated with charitable offers.

The 35-year-old said: "People have been volunteering their time and others have offered comfort boxes for the homeless.

"Someone has offered to give gifts to everyone and we've had donations towards food costs and it has been amazing and I'm overwhelmed by it.

"It has awakened everyone's Christmas spirit."

The restaurant serves Mediterranean and Greek dishes so beef stifado - a beef stew - with mash potato, and vegetable soup will be on the menu.

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