Fire-damaged restaurant to reopen with Easter event

A restaurant which caught fire over the weekend is opening on Easter Sunday to help bring the community together.

The Hengist restaurant in Aylesford, Kent, was damaged by a blaze which burned through the building in the early hours of Sunday morning, with its owners saying they were "deeply heartbroken" by the incident.

The business is hosting an event from 11:00 BST which will include mini picnics, colouring for children, cookie decorating, an Easter egg hunt, face painting and a bouncy castle.

"This isn't about money, this is about family, Easter and our village," the business said.

More than £3,000 has since been raised for the restaurant, based in a Grade-II listed building on Aylesford High Street.

"We as a family are really heartbroken and don't know what to do at the moment, we live and breathe the Hengist," said a business spokesperson.

"It's our home, it's our life and our customers and our team are what makes us who we are."

The Hengist said as its toilets were out of use it was asking other local businesses if those attending could use their facilities.

Anyone who wants to attend is being asked to contact the Hengist.

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