A seafront pub which had its kitchen destroyed in a fire has a new lease of life.

Margate's Ambrette restaurant has moved into the former Hoy pub on Fort Hill - with plans to open on Thursday.

The site had been closed since December after a fire ripped through the kitchen.

Landlord David Goulding took the "heart-breaking" decision to move on to another pub after being forced to cancel hundreds of Christmas bookings.

The pub was put on the market in April by business property adviser Christie & Co, and Ambrette owners Emma and Dev Biswal snapped it up.

Emma said: "We have been looking for a new location in Margate since 2010.

"The Hoy ticks all the boxes, we wanted a modern space with a seafront location as close to the Turner gallery as possible.

"We also needed a bigger site. Previously the maximum parties we could take would be around 40 but we now can take parties more than 100 - for Christmas time this is really important.

"When we got our first visit from Michelin in 2010, they told us that they did not like the building at all and this has really held us back."

The restaurant's previous home in King Street was Grade II listed, and so work was restricted.

"At the Hoy, the kitchen will be more than three times the size of our current kitchen." Emma added

"It is newly refurbished and decorated.

"Previously, the site was run as a pub so it had a very long bar.

"As we are a restaurant this wasn't needed so we have cut the bar in half to make more room for tables with sea views over the harbour arm and out to sea."

"We will also have the addition of outside seating."

The pair are looking forward to the benefits of being beside the sea.

Emma said: "The biggest benefit is our customers can enjoy sea views.

"We already get lots of customers from the Turner gallery, but now we are just over the road, so it will be more convenient for our customers.

"Margate's sun sets are famous and some of the best in Europe.

"We will have outside tables and chairs as well as our window seats so our customers can really make the most of the view.

"What better place could there be to enjoy food than with a view like Margate's sun sets."