As far of places to visit on a Sunday evening, this dark corner might not be everyone’s first choice for entertainment or a quiet, cosy drink.

But tucked away in Tontine Street, Folkestone, is a new establishment which might well change the way the people of Kent view the art of the dive bar.

Headed up by Nathan Roberts, who some might recognise from popular food joint That Burger on the ever-growing Harbour Arm, Blackmarket takes inspiration from similar places in New York and the rest of the USA.

It’s not a particularly big venue - by my count, there are only about 30 seats – but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in character.

Greeted by red neon signs boasting about beer, burgers and liquor, the interior mixes the building's bare brick walls with freshly painted black panels.

It’s got the stylish, carefully curated aesthetic that people love to see in these types of establishments – without the dirt or grime that can typically accompany no-nonsense bars.

Of course, it doesn’t need to be grim – a dive bar can purely represent the vibes and spirit of the place.

Graffiti in the toilet is probably as dirty as it gets – but even that just adds to the charm of the place that it’s hard to think negatively about it.

Blackmarket is also in no way lacking in customers to actually fill the seats, with quite an eclectic group of people sat side-by-side enjoying a drink and a bite to eat.

Very few places can comfortably accommodate families and the elderly alongside some of the meanest-looking men in this neck of the woods.

It’s a struggle to get a seat at first before a group noticing my peril offer up their chairs as they head out into the bitterly cold night.

My partner and I get a few drinks in – reasonably priced cokes and mango craft beers all round – but I’m a lot more excited about something else.

In a town with as many interesting restaurants as Folkestone, any new eatery simply has to offer something worth coming down for and I get the feeling for this place it’s the food.

I ordered a Nat Love The 2nd, which made use of both American and Swiss cheese alongside chorizo, onion rings, lettuce, BBQ sauce and crispy onions.

It’s certainly fancier than peanuts and crisps but when you know you can cook, why wouldn’t you show it off to the flocking crowds?

I’m a big fan of smash burgers and I’m keen to see how this place compares to some of the big hitters in the Kent burger scene.

I’d have also loved to have tucked into the Korean wings but at the time of my visit, they were currently out of stock – though a couple nearby described them as “gorgeous” when they overheard discussions about them.

The menu itself is regularly updated to keep things fresh, with a Chinese marinade pork belly burger having already taken over Nat Love’s slot meaning I’m describing an experience I may never have again.

Which is a terrible shame, because I thoroughly enjoyed my meal for the evening.

I slightly disassemble the burger – the onion rings are practically falling out anyway – but I’m pleased to see something of a decent size which isn’t hideously overindulgent like some places take pride in.

The meat falls apart in your mouth, the chorizo adds a delicate kick to the taste and the BBQ sauce is finely tuned to the needs of the burger – not too much nor too little.

Each bite is an explosion of deliciousness, never seeming to get the balance wrong whilst constantly being enjoyable.

But the weak must make way for the strong and if Nathan wants to jazz up the menu I have no doubt in my mind whatever he’s got planned will continue to blow punters out of the water.

So can a business which is less than a month old be considered a hidden gem? I certainly think so.

It certainly can’t hurt to visit before the bar really takes off because, if other customers share the same experience I do, it’ll be no time at all before Blackmarket does just that.