The duo behind a highly rated restaurant have revealed the location for their new venture, months after closing their old spot.
Polly Pleasence and Dave Hart, formerly of The Folkestone Wine Company, will now get underway renovating their new site in Northgate, Canterbury.
Their closure in May came after almost eight years of trading in the seaside town.
In a statement posted online, the pair announced new details for the eatery, called Franc of Canterbury, after months of anticipation.
“We will be refurbishing over the next two months and hope to have our doors open in September,” they wrote.
“The ground floor will be a wine bar while the first floor will be a restaurant.
“We’ll be serving classic French dishes and fabulous wines from France and her neighbours.”
A premise license has also been posted in the new site’s window for an application to serve alcohol from midday to 10pm daily, accommodating a maximum of 55 people.
The closure of the duo’s previous venture, The Folkestone Wine Company, on May 18, was met with great sadness by a number of former customers.
It was opened in 2015 after chef Dave Hart took over the town centre site, formerly Linda’s Tea Room.
Over the years, it has gained a reputation for its French-inspired cuisine and its commitment to using high-quality ingredients sourced from across Europe.
In September 2023, the restaurant was featured in a list of top UK eateries compiled by renowned chef Angela Hartnett. Praising the “phenomenal” food, she described the venue as “a relaxed place for a really easy lunch or supper with, obviously, amazing wine”.
The venue was also recognised by The Times, appearing several times on its list of Britain’s 20 best places to eat on the coast, while The Guardian ranked it sixth on its list of the best seafood restaurants around the UK coast in 2021-22.
Dishes at the restaurant, which changed its menu daily, included diver-caught scallops with lemon beurre blanc, and crispy duck served with beetroot and blood orange salad.
Polly, the daughter of actor Donald Pleasence, and Dave were at the helm throughout.
