A pair of dads who started out cooking burgers in their garden during lockdown now have their own restaurant.

They set up a takeaway service in Sittingbourne in January 2021 after gaining praise for their home-cooked meats.

After naming their business The Grumpy Dads Grill, and appearing at festivals and events across the county, they partnered with Millers Bar in Milton Regis to offer customers a takeaway option for their barbecue recipes.

Now they have taken their next step by offering a sit-down service at The Warden Bay pub, near Leysdown on Sheppey.

The pair had already been allowing customers to collect takeaways, as well as use the existing pub to enjoy their order "in more of a fast-food environment."

Yet the Grumpy Dads have now converted part of the pub into a restaurant, meaning guests can enjoy a more family-friendly experience.

They will continue to offer the likes of burgers, hot dogs and pizza boxes on their menu.

Speaking on ahead of the launch earlier this month, Mike said: "The hard work has paid off.

"We're all set ready for tonight, and looking forward to greeting those who have booked a table.

"If anyone wants us to host your birthday/party, corporate dinner or Christmas party - please get in touch as we can provide a range of options, including a Grumpy Dads-style buffet."

The pair have also cooked at events like the Maidstone Tattoo Extravaganza and Iwade Rocks Charity Music Festival.

Speaking in the summer, 37-year-old Chris explained the pair saw “a gap in the market for a dirty, hearty American burger.”

He said: “A lot of the locals wanted us to open after we announced our next chapter would be here.

“But we want to take it slow given how busy we have been at Millers Bar and take things gradually.

“This is so we can test things out which, given how busy we think we have been so far, hopefully bodes well for when the restaurant opens.

"Inside the pub they have a big commercial kitchen that we are going to take over, and we are going to turn just under half of their seating area into a sit-down restaurant.

"The owner of The Warden Bay has helped in allowing us to enter into a leasing contract with him to run our takeaways from there, but more importantly provide a sit-down family-friendly area.

"Ultimately we're called The Grumpy Dads Grill because we both have young children ourselves, so it's really important that we provide an atmosphere that is suitable for kids and parents."