A new cafe-bar at a former Debenhams store has been launched by the company behind the Cosy Club brand.

Loungers, which runs more than 200 sites across the UK, unveiled plans to move into the vacant site at Westwood Cross shopping centre.

Plans were revealed last year for Riparo Lounge, which will be open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and drinks.

And the venue welcomed its first guests to Broadstairs on Saturday.

Bosses say particular attention will be paid to families with a selection of games, books, colouring pencils and pads on offer.

Loungers community manager Gemma Irwin said: “Our Lounges strive to put community at the heart of hospitality and our teams always go the extra mile to make a difference.

“They are actively encouraged to connect with their communities by working with local groups, charities, organisations and businesses at the heart of the fabric of local life.”

It will be open from Sundays to Thursdays 9am to 11pm and Fridays to Saturdays until midnight.

Loungers plans to expand to more than 400 sites in England and Wales across two different brands: Lounge and Cosy Club.

Meanwhile, Hollywood Bowl, which has more than 70 centres across the UK, originally intended to open last autumn in another part of the former Debenhams unit at the shopping centre.

But it was confirmed it has been delayed until this summer.

It was revealed in 2021 the former department store would be transformed into a complex with restaurants, bars and leisure offerings across the two-storey site.

The prominent site was home to the department store for 16 years, with Debenhams as a key tenant.

It had been hoped that despite the closure of Debenhams stores across the country, the Broadstairs outlet could be spared, alongside Gravesend's.

But in January 2021 – and after 243 years trading – Boohoo revealed it had no plans to keep any of the remaining Debenhams stores open.