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A Sheppey beach kiosk is set to reopen in time for the summer.
Identical twins Henry and Oliver Eakin are transforming the building in Shellness Road, Leysdown, into a cafe.
Renamed Neptune’s Beach Cafe, it will serve ice cream, breakfasts and healthier fast food-type meals, all of which will be made from locally-sourced produce.
The 22-year-old brothers, from Surrey, used to spend their summer holidays in Leysdown as children and decided to take the kiosk over after seeing an article about its lease being available.
Henry said: “We wanted to go for it because we have been going there pretty much every year since we were young. We would go every summer and stay with our grandma from July to September as kids.
“When we saw on the Times Guardian website that the kiosk was up for renewal, we thought there was plenty of opportunity there so we went for it.”
Speaking about their plans, Henry said: “The idea is to put on events as well as run the cafe, like a beach fitness club, an outdoor cinema, beach clean ups – we’re open to ideas too. It will probably be open from 10am to 6pm, with extended hours in the summer, and that will be every month except December.”
The brothers, who have previously worked in events and hospitality, will be helped by their partners Lottie and Kirsty, and are thinking of moving to Sheppey once the cafe is open.
The kiosk has needed a complete overhaul. Work has included re-plastering internal walls, the drainage system being fixed and the building being rewired.
“We’ve got contractors there in the week and we’re working on it at weekends,” Henry said. “There’s still a lot to do but we’re excited to open now.”
The cafe is set to open on Saturday, April 11.
On the day, there will be music, a bouncy castle and hot and cold food being served. Free tickets for the opening event can be booked via the Neptune’s Beach Cafe Facebook page and will include an ice cream or hot drink.
