A popular cafe that closed last year following a zero-star food hygiene rating is set to reopen after a major revamp - including losing its famous colours.

New owner Ozcan Yalcin has taken on the Blue and White Cafe along the A20 Hythe Road in Smeeth, near Ashford, and has spent thousands renovating the building to shake its “dirty” reputation.

The venue, which thousands of people drive past every day, shut down in November

following the discovery of rat droppings in the kitchen just months after the former owner pledged to clean up the place.

Mr Yalcin, 39, who also owns the A20 Grill, a food truck which operates from the site’s car park, says the cafe’s rating began affecting his business even though it was separate.

But now Mr Yalcin, has taken on the eatery, which will be renamed the A20 Cafe in a bid to overhaul its image.

Mr Yalcin, from South Ashford, said: “I saw it as a good opportunity because it has been sitting here.

“Because I run the A20 Grill, I have a relationship with customers and people always ask what is happening to the cafe.

“We have ripped everything out. The kitchen has all new cladding so it's easy to clean, a new floor, and the majority of the kitchen has new equipment.

“It is all being redecorated and all the tables will be sanded and repainted.

“There will be no more blue and white, it will be the A20 Cafe.”

The blue and white paint on the outside will soon become grey.

While a date is yet to be confirmed, the aim is for the cafe to open in four to six weeks' time.

It will create up to five new full-time jobs and serve a variety of English breakfasts and light bites like paninis.

It will be open seven days a week from 7am to 3pm while the truck, which serves kebabs and burgers, will continue to operate from the car park four days a week.

The cafe had space for 64 seats but Mr Yalcin hopes to increase this to 75.

While it might not be ready in time for the opening, the car park will eventually be tarmacked to create a better experience for customers with about 20 spaces.

Mr Yalcin added: “The car park is a big issue with the holes.

“When it rains or if there are lorries, it makes dips.

“There will be moveable bollards to stop lorries parking up overnight.”

Future plans could see an outdoor seating area created out the back.