The first eatery in a town's new leisure quarter has opened its doors.

The Sentado Lounge café bar opened in the Bourne Place leisure quarter, opposite the railway station, in Sittingbourne at 9am and will be holding an invite-only launch event from 6pm today.

It is part of the multi-million pound regeneration of the town centre , which is being delivered by the Spirit of Sittingbourne consortium, and is set to be joined by an eight-screen Light Cinema, bowling alley and restaurants such as Nando’s, Pizza Express and dessert chain Creams.

West Country-based Loungers PLC is behind the opening of the new café bar, which has created 25 jobs.

It has described the new addition to the town as a "family-friendly, retro-inspired cosy retreat", which will follow the style of many of their other Loungers sites.

The café will be child friendly with games, books and colouring, and will have a community notice board for people to publicise any events or fundraiser they're holding.

It will serve brunch, sandwiches, burgers and tapas from around the world and there are separate menus for children, vegans and those favouring a gluten-free diet.

As well as eat-in, the new café bar will also have a takeaway service.

A Loungers spokesman said: “We are delighted to be open as of this morning. There has been a real buzz in the Sittingbourne community about our new Lounge and we can’t wait to meet everyone.

"If you’d like to visit, there is no need to book – please just rock up, grab a table and enjoy.”

Cllr Roger Truelove, leader of Swale council, said he was very pleased Loungers had opened.

He added: "I am sure it will meet a need for both those using the Travelodge Hotel and the wider public.

"People will understand that progress at Bourne Place is slowed by the Covid crisis, but we are working steadily towards a wide range of leisure offers in the centre of town."

The 63-bed Travelodge hotel was the first business to start trading in the leisure quarter .

The Spirit of Sittingbourne regeneration project is expected to bring more than £300m of investment to the town.

Read more: All the latest news from Sittingbourne