A barbecue business has expanded to the Kent coast.

The owners of Ashford’s smoking hot barbecue stand, Street Kings Smoke Shack, have opened a second finger-licking location in Whitstable.

The new table service restaurant, located on Oxford Street, fuses slow-cooked barbecued meats with authentic Caribbean flavours for a unique dining experience.

Founders Tony and Makalla de Sousa introduced the first Street Kings Smoke Shack location as a street food stand at the Coachworks in Ashford. Their success since opening in 2020 has now seen the husband and wife team follow their dream to open a full restaurant closer to home.

“We want to connect with people through great food, and love and passion is our most important ingredient,” says Tony, who gave up his career with BMW to pursue his new life as restaurateur. “But it’s no secret that the art of great barbecue starts with the meat. All of our meat comes from trusted butchers who prepare the finest meat, which we cook over a variety of different woods to create that authentic barbecue experience.”

“We want to appeal to all walks of life and all ages, including offering a kids menu,” adds Makalla. “Street Kings is an intimate, cosy restaurant. We offer our own local beer brewed to complement our food, with a real artisan approach to our food preparation.”

The couple swapped city life for a slower pace back in 2017 when they moved from West London to Whitstable with their daughters Sophia, 13, and Savannah, nine.

Opening a restaurant on their doorstep isn’t the only milestone the de Sousa have celebrated recently, as Tony and Makalla celebrated their 20-year anniversary by getting married last year.

“Makalla’s always been the queen of my heart and it was time for us to tie the knot,” says Tony, the 41-year-old chef behind the barbecue brand.

“We were already partners in every respect – as parents to our two daughters and in running Street Kings together – so to make it official, with our girls and loved ones around us, was another ambition achieved.”

Street Kings Smoke Shack in Whitstable is now open and taking bookings. You can find out more details here.