Would you open up your home to feed 22 strangers?

Sofia Baguley decided to do just that, with the aim of bringing the taste of Colombia to Tunbridge Wells every month.

The 51-year-old has now been running her successful business, Sofia’s Colombian Kitchen, for a decade.

On the first Saturday of every month, the mum-of-two prepares homemade meals in a small kitchen for up for 22 people.

She hosts a Colombian-style dinner party at her home in Pennine Walk, where guests can meet new people, try new food and join in with a bit of salsa dancing.

It is currently rated the number one spot for food in the town and has a five-star rating on Tripadvisor.

Despite this, Sofia says she would never want to start up a restaurant, as she loves serving meals from her own home.

“No, I enjoy it too much,” she said.

“I wouldn’t be able to do this, and it wouldn’t be the same energy or the same vibe. It would be a restaurant like any other.

“People don’t come just for the food, it’s the whole experience. They say they have been transported.

“That’s my intention – to bring Colombia to Tunbridge Wells once a month.”

Sofia grew up in a small village called Pava, south of Cartagena de Indias, where she was raised by her maternal grandparents on a farm.

Despite not having much, the one thing she remembers is always being surrounded by food and family.

“It was amazing,” she explained. “At the time I didn’t think so, but now I really appreciate the way I was raised so close to nature.

“We would wake up in the morning, grab a glass and get some milk from the cow ourselves.

“You would drink it straight away, I can remember it was all foamy and warm.

“For breakfast we would have scrambled eggs and arepas – crispy cornmeal cakes.

“I don’t drink coffee now, but I did until I was about 15. In Colombia you would have coffee from as young as you can remember.”

At one point Sofia recalls living with 16 relatives, including uncles, aunties and cousins.

All of her family members were very influential in her upbringing.

She said: “My mother had to go to Venezuela to work because it was one of the richest countries in South America.

“She would come back at Christmas and Easter time, bringing presents and goodies. She would write to us monthly and send money.”

“We didn’t have any luxury back then. I remember sharing a room with six people,” she added.

“Everything was basic and at one point we didn’t have electricity or running water – we had to go to a well.

“But it was still very lively and happy. Even if you didn’t have much money we would still find a way to celebrate.”

Sofia met her British husband, Kitt, in Caracas, Venezuela, while she was studying.

The pair moved to the UK in 1995, when she was just 23 years old.

But it wasn’t until a few years later she got the idea for her unique business.

Sofia said: “Twenty years ago we went to Havana in Cuba, and for four days we only ate in people’s homes – it’s called paladares.

“Families welcome the tourists and serve them good food. Then you pay into their pocket instead of a chain restaurant.

“I jokingly said to my husband, ‘I could do this in England!’

“But at the time I wasn’t confident enough to think that I could host for people, and that they would pay for my food and like it.”

In 2013, Sofia held her first gathering at home – initially serving a couple of friends, which turned into complete strangers and grew from there.

She said: “I can't believe how popular it has become. It was nerve-racking at the beginning.

“I didn’t know what kind of people would come, how they would behave, and if they were going to be unruly or rude.”

Sofia provides a set three-course meal at £40pp, serving a variety of empanadas, ancocho pavero (meaty soup) and bunuelos de maiz (corn fritters).

She says a typical Colombian meal would always include rice, a soup for lunch, with patacón (fried green plantain) and either fish or pork for dinner.

“Our food is very simple, humble and not fancy at all. It isn’t spicy, but is very flavoursome,” she explained.

“A lot of people tell me they were very apprehensive coming to someone's house, not knowing what to expect.

“Many are curious, but when they get here I think they feel what I feel – warmth, passion and excitement.

“I love it when I see people exchanging numbers and chatting, just really enjoying each other's company. That’s one of my favourite things.”