It’s getting cold folks, really cold. And I don’t know about you but the plummeting temperatures and cold snap make me want to do nothing more than enjoy a lovely curry.

Now, Kent is smothered with incredible eateries offering a range of Indian, Chinese or Nepalese cuisine so I was hard-tasked in finding the best one… but I think I’ve done just that.

During my research, I came across the well-renowned Gurkha Fire restaurant found at the former fire station in Chatham.

It’s basically in the ideal place for anyone who wants to enjoy a drink in the nearby town centre (Wetherspoons is 150m away) and a bit of history (the iconic Thomas Waghorn statue is right outside).

The location of the Nepalese site was quite unique, but it was easy enough to park just a minute’s walk away, and the slick exterior with outdoor seating and lighting was an eye-catcher as you got closer.

Once inside, my partner and I were immediately greeted by the extremely helpful front-door staff who set out a theme of exemplary customer service we would experience throughout the night.

It was just after 6pm and I was surprised to see dozens of people already at their seats on the ground floor – they must have been eager, which is always a good sign.

A quick walk through the restaurant, which was smartly laid out and showed signs of its former fire station history, and we were taken to a table upstairs which only had a few other couples and felt quite private.

Immediately we were impressed with the look of our surroundings. It ranks very highly for places we’ve visited in the past few years.

Now, I don’t think I’ve ever complimented a restaurant’s menu but Gurkha Fire expertly guides you through the menu with wit and humour, as well as perfectly describing the dish and its allergens.

It also gives a nod to the infamous cone-covered Waghorn statute.

There was plenty to choose from including nibbles, small plates, food from the Tandoor, mains, rice, naan bread, and a daily specials menu which was sweet chilli chicken.

A range of wines, beers – including their own Gurkha Fire lager (4%) - and cocktails were available.

Having starved myself for most of the day I went for the three chilli chicken special (£7.95) – which included around seven spiced chicken bites – as well as the butter chicken (£13.50) served on the bone “as it should be” and a truffle cheese naan bread (£4.95).

My fianceé went for a mixture of small plates which caught her eye. They were the palak chat (£7.50), which is a crispy spinach fritter, the Waghorn potatoes (£7.50) which packed a surprise kick, the vegan momo (8.95) – a Nepalese steamed dumpling – and the Tandoori roti (£3.50) to finish off.

To wash it all down we went for the Gurkha Fire lager (£5.95), which was refreshing and well worth a try if you visit, and a mojito (£7.50) described as “one of the best I’ve ever had” by my partner.

We were thoroughly impressed with the quality of the food, with the creamy butter chicken and cheese naan being some of the best I’ve had. The only bugbear is that it was a pain getting the chicken off the bone, which also seemed to make up half of the portion.

The chilli chicken bites were a great starter to have but be warned if you don’t like hot food you’ll probably want to avoid it. Described as having a bit of a kick, I was left frantically trying to grab my pint.

For the vegans and vegetarians in Kent, it’s a great venue to head to as there are so many options and the plant-based options my partner chose were delicious and almost stole my attention after trying a bite or two.

Overall, it’s not a surprise this place is ranked the best restaurant in Medway on TripAdvisor. The well-laid-out restaurant, with nods to the Gurkhas as well as its fire station past, is a lovely night out for a couple or a family.

But it’s the food and staff who stole the show for us. Our servers were so friendly, and attentive and helped us with anything we needed, while we even had a visit from the chef, which is something I haven’t seen in a while but was a great touch. And that food, well, you have to try it for yourself to understand why it’s raved about!

Out of five:

Food: Some of the best food I’ve had in Kent, with plenty of options and vegan/vegetarian-friendly. You can’t ask for much more, but beware of the spice! *****

Drink: A great offering of wines, cocktails, soft drinks and its very own lager. *****

Decor: Smartly laid out with nods to its Nepalese heritage and fire station history. The toilets were a tad small with an awkwardly placed sink. ****

Staff: Truly exemplary and exactly what you want when eating out – friendly, talkative and willing to help you as much as possible. *****

Price: £92 for a curry and drinks is quite steep, but maybe that's just a sign of the times and how everything is more expensive. Bearing in mind we had three small plates, a starter, two breads, a pint and two cocktails it’s a good price if you want to treat yourself now and again. ***