Bosses behind an award-winning Chatham restaurant plan to launch a second branch after years of roaring trade.

Gurkha Fire opened under the arches at New Cut in 2024, becoming a popular spot for authentic Nepalese dishes plus live music nights.

Now, the restaurant is set to open a ‘street food’ outlet nearby in the High Street that could see over 650 customers a week.

The latest venture, Canteen, will fill an empty unit in between Pet Aqua and Burger King, previously occupied by Japanese café Sushi Moto & Bento.

It will specialise in Nepalese and Indian street food, with opening hours of 10am to 10pm Monday to Sunday.

A premises licence application to sell alcohol has also been submitted to Medway Council.

Bosses say their expansion plans will create 12 new jobs and deliver “significant social and economic benefits” in Chatham’s multi-million pound regeneration.

In the application, the restaurant said: “As many town centres and high streets continue to face economic challenges and declining footfall, this development aims to make a positive contribution to the local area by increasing visitor numbers, supporting neighbouring businesses, and helping to revitalise Chatham High Street.

“By providing a distinctive food offering and creating a destination that encourages people to spend time in the town centre, Canteen by Gurkha Fire will contribute to the ongoing regeneration and economic growth of the area.”

Since it opened Gurkha Fire has quickly become one of the area’s top rated restaurants, attracting customers from all over Kent.

It was founded by two professional chefs, Keshav and Raju Kandel, and local businessman and Medway Council’s portfolio holder for economic and social regeneration, Cllr Harinder Mahil.

An opening date for Canteen has not yet been confirmed.

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