A fine food company that ran a restaurant in a department store is pulling out less than a year after it opened.

Macknade, which has been going for 175 years, opened at Hoopers department store in Mount Pleasant, Tunbridge Wells, nine months ago.

However, it's now "stepping back" to focus on solo projects it is working on around the county.

The company revealed it is handing back the space to Hoopers to run itself and that all staff will remain employed and there will be no job losses.

Chief executive Stefano Cuomo said: “We are looking at several spaces currently in both East and West Kent that will allow us to replicate the scale and breadth of our successful Ashford and Faversham stores, which continue to go from strength to strength.

"As we look to grow and influence more people, creating quality food & drink experiences remains our focus.”

Managing director Shane Godwin added: “Macknade is built on community and communities can’t exist without the relationships that bind them.

"Our relationship with Hoopers remains important and we are considering several opportunities for how we work together in future.

"We have achieved the goals we set out with Hoopers, supporting their own ambitions, as well as helping us to understand more about how we operate ourselves and the growing pains associated with a scaling business.

"I am excited for this next chapter and the role we can play in creating & enriching communities.”

The company is expected to make an announcement in the coming weeks on one of its new locations.