A couple are launching the first Kent branch of a bubble tea cafe chain – and hope to open more across the county.

CUPP Bubble Tea will be opening in London Road, Sevenoaks next month.

Husband and wife duo Jenny and Younnis Abbad-Andaloussi say they are both excited and eager to open the doors to the public.

The pair moved from London to Sevenoaks in 2020.

“We are the franchise owners for the whole of Kent, so the goal will be in the next couple of months or years to have more stores in the area,” 30-year-old Younnis said.

“Thankfully we work really well together – I’m the one to go and do things and Jenny is very much the brains behind it all.

“We both come from an IT background, and never have done anything involving bricks and mortar.

“It’s great to be doing something that you can physically see, instead of sitting behind a computer.

“We are excited, nervous, stressed...there’s a lot to do! We are learning a lot and expanding our skills.”

CUPP Bubble Tea first started in Bristol in 2012 – using a converted Citroen H van named Pearl, and would tour music and food festivals.

The company now has 29 branches across the country, including Brighton, London, Leeds and Cardiff.

However, this is the first store to open in Kent.

Bubble tea originated from Taiwan in the 1980s and has become increasingly popular.

It is a term given to drinks that consists of tea, milk and chewy tapioca pearls, which are shaken together to form a bubbly foam.

Younnis added: “It’s a great product and I rave about it all the time.

“It has good quality ingredients and I believe the people in the community will love it.

“We take pride in using only the freshest fruits, organic milk, and our own house-made syrups, entirely free from fructose.

“Whether it's our signature fruit teas, creamy milk teas, or indulgent specialty drinks, each sip is a burst of pure delight.”

The building used to be home to The Hardware Centre – a family-run business which served the town for more than 50 years.

Previous co-owners Julie Cornford and her brother Stephen Martin decided to the sell the store and retire last year.

Jenny and Younnis say they are very keen to support the local community, by working with local sports clubs and involving the younger generation.

They also plan on employing three full-time and six-part time staff, the majority of which will be students.

CUPP Bubble Tea will be opening from 2pm on Friday, July 21.

They will be giving away the first 100 bubble teas and offering 50% off for the rest of the day.

The store will then be open Monday to Saturday, 11am to 10pm and Sunday, 11am to 8pm.