An empty building in the centre of Chatham has become a Nepalese restaurant.

Gurkha Fire opened its doors on New Cut, opposite Wickes, last weekend.

The venture, set up by the owners of award-winning Dylan’s Nepalese nearby, offers Nepalese, Indian and Indo-Chinese cuisine.

Guests including the Mayor of Medway Cllr Nina Gurung attended the opening ceremony, together with Cllr Harinder Mahil, who is a director at Gurkha Fire.

The restaurant’s opening hours are 12pm to 11pm Tuesday to Saturday, and 12pm to 10pm on Sunday.

Around 15 full-time jobs have been created.

The business was set up by professional chefs Keshav and Raju Kandel, who moved to Medway from London where they worked at restaurant chain Dishoom.

They said: “Following the success of Dylan’s Cafe, we are really excited to bring back the Fire Station to Medway public.

“Gurkha Fire will be a step up in cuisine that Medway needs.

“We want to reflect the changing taste in the UK, while still providing the friendly service that Dylan’s has become known for.”

Historically, the space under the Victorian viaduct was a fire station until it closed and was bought by Medway Council.

The council then leased it to the Fire Station Brasserie, which opened in 2019 and shut last July.