A Thai restaurant offering "authentic Asian street food" is opening at the back of a sports hall.

Gong, based at Lordswood Bowling Centre, in Chatham, will be welcoming diners at the end of this month, as well as providing a take-away service.

Behind the new culinary venture is Tommy Garrett who has worked in the bar at the club in Newton Close for two years.

His friend and boss Tim Watters offered him use of the function room and, being a fan of oriental cuisine, Tommy decided to take on the "challenge".

The 21-year-old likes to cook at his Lordswood family home and had been training to be a chef at a restaurant near Alicante in Spain when he had to return home because he did not have the necessary paperwork.

The former Waterfront UTC student said : "I'm very excited. It's something new and fresh for me and I think it's something Lordswood needs.

"There's Indian and Chinese restaurants around here but the nearest Thais are in Rochester and Maidstone.

"I put the idea up on social media to see if people were interested and within a day I had received 100 replies."

Tommy, who will be mainly front-of-house, believes there is a demand for Thai food in the area.

He said:"There are new homes and building work going on everywhere around here."

When Tommy is not working, he enjoys cooking.

He said: "I like doing Mediterranean food and some Thai food, but I wouldn't say I am an expert. I'm getting some lessons.

"I've never been to Thailand, but it's on my list, after all I'm running a Thai restaurant!"

He is employing a Thai chef to add her expertise as well as four to five staff to work in the newly-fitted kitchen.

A large and comprehensive menu including starter appetisers, vegetarian options, separate noodle and rice dishes is available. There is also a separate bar.

Gong will be open seven days a week. Opening hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday 5pm to 10.30pm, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 5pm to 11pm. It seats about 80 guests.

The name comes from Thailand's tradition of gongs and they are popular souvenirs bought by visitors to the country.