A restaurant hit by an arson attack is giving away free pizza for a year to the first customers through the door when it reopens tomorrow.

GB Pizza Co in Margate was forced to close in October after the site was ravaged by fire not long after being refurbished for its 10-year anniversary.

The blaze was started deliberately, but thankfully no one was hurt.

Now eight months on, the restaurant in Marine Drive is set to relaunch at midday tomorrow, with the first customers through the door winning free pizza for a year.

In a post on Twitter today, bosses said: "The first two customers to be welcomed into our gorgeous and wonderful restaurant tomorrow at midday will receive one of our VIP GOLD CARDS.

"Your gold card will entitle you to one free pizza EVERY SINGLE DAY that GB is open, 363 days of the year."

The much-loved pizza parlour was co-founded by award-winning chef Rachel Seed, who sadly died in 2018, and food journalist Lisa Richards.

They first came to Margate in 2012, starting off on the harbour arm before moving to their permanent seafront restaurant.

About £20,000 was spent on renovations before property was destroyed by the fire, which was started by 48-year-old Andrew Miller.

The arsonist sang “I’m a firestarter - a twisted firestarter” when taken into custody, and was later jailed for four years after admitting arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.

Soon after the sentencing, Mrs Richards said she was "staggered" to learn a passing police officer failed to confront iller when he was seen lighting a fire in her doorway.

The officer would later report why they had not intervened, saying they believed the man “appeared to be warming himself by a small fire”, and deemed him not to be a risk.

Despite the devastation the blaze caused, the community flocked to help staff with the clean-up operation.

GB Pizza Co is also offering 50% off food from Monday to Wednesday next week to celebrate the launch.