A Kent KFC restaurant has been branded "the worst in the UK" amid a deluge of scathing complaints.

The drive-thru in Chestfield, near Whitstable, has come in for fierce criticism on both social media and review site TripAdvisor, with hundreds of disgruntled customers hitting out at the fast food joint.

They claim the restaurant shuts early without warning, leaves drive-thru customers crawling at a snail's pace, messes up orders, regularly cannot take card payments and inexplicably closes its doors to eat-in diners.

Customers even say the Thanet Way drive-thru often runs out of the famous fried chicken that has earned KFC its place among the world's takeaway giants.

The company admits the performance of the Whitstable branch "isn't up to standards" and says the team will "work hard to make it right".

But some customers have pledged never to return to the restaurant, which has been rated 'terrible' - the lowest grade possible - by 81 of 125 reviewers on TripAdvisor.

The most recent describes the drive-thru as "a shambles of a restaurant", branding it "a poor reflection on KFC".

"Every time I visit this place I come away disappointed," the reviewer wrote.

"The experience is always poor with standard long waits, slow service, and something basic not available.

"This time it was both no chicken (!) and the card machine wasn’t working (still not fixed a week later).

"It is such a shambles of a restaurant. Also, why is the door always locked, forcing you to go via the drive-thru?"

A user called Rhysdan echoed concerns about the slow service, writing: "Waiting in drive thru for 35mins only 2 cars in front of me.

"Was told 6mins for chicken, now been 35. Now late for work - don’t ever come here."

Martin F posted a review entitled "Worst KFC in the UK?".

He ranted: "This is probably the slowest fast food you will ever buy. The portion sizes seem to get smaller every week.

"The fries are always really soggy and almost inedible.

"Tonight we got home to find that one of are items was missing that we had still paid for (not the first time this has happened).

"Tonight was the last straw, we will not be giving our hard earned money to this outlet only to receive second rate service and poor food."

Grievances appear to have reached a head in recent days, with a Facebook post criticising the restaurant yesterday attracting more than 150 comments on a Whitstable residents group.

Daniel Sullivan posted: "Chestfield KFC has to be the worst in the country.

"Never any staff, cannot eat in, closes at 9pm and never able to pay with card."

Lorraine Jager replied: "It’s dreadful. I waited for nearly an hour and then got told there’s no food. They never have beans, the signs for cash only are only at the machine you talk into, it’s a bit late then as you can’t get out.

"The food is c**p. It’s definitely not fast food as it takes so long. It really is the worst run takeaway ever!"

A spokesperson for KFC says work to address the issues raised is taking place.

“This certainly isn’t up to the Colonel’s standards and we’re sorry to see these reviews," they said.

"The team at our Whitstable restaurant have been working hard to make sure every guest’s experience is one the Colonel can be proud of.

"We always encourage our fans to get in touch when things don’t go to plan – and we’ll work hard to make it right!”

Despite its two-star Trip Advisor rating, the Whitstable branch isn't the worst-reviewed KFC in Kent.

The chain's restaurant in Courtney Road, Gillingham, has a rating of 1.5, albeit with slightly fewer reviews.

Very few in the county earn three stars or more, but the best performers include the Broadstairs drive-thru and an outlet at the M20 services in Hythe.