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Italian restuarant could be coming to Sittingbourne High Street opposite Mexican

00:00, 04 May 2017

A second historic town centre building could be converted into a restaurant under plans being put together by a businessman.

Musa Kivrak has already bought the Bull Inn pub in the High Street and intends to turn it into a new branch of Tacos Locos, serving Mexican cuisine. He already owns a venue of the same name in Canterbury.

Now the entrepreneur is eyeing up another venture, just across the road, which could become an Italian.

Musa Kivrak and his son Omer outside the new Tacos Locos restaurant in Canterbury
Musa Kivrak and his son Omer outside the new Tacos Locos restaurant in Canterbury

The Victorian building at number 60, previously occupied by the Woolwich, is up for rent with chartered surveyors Harrisons.

It’s spread over four floors and is described as “ideal for occupation as a restaurant/bar”.

Mr Kivrak says he hopes to turn it into an Italian restaurant with a large pizza oven and fresh pasta on the menu.

The Bull in Sittingbourne High Street
The Bull in Sittingbourne High Street

Although negotiations are still in very early stages, if all goes to plan he wants to open it by the end of the year.

He submitted a change of use application at the beginning of February for the Bull Inn to become a Mexican restaurant.

As it is Grade II listed, there are constraints on planning which need to be resolved before work can start.

The Bull in Sittingbourne High Street
The Bull in Sittingbourne High Street

Mr Kivrak, who has opened multiple ventures across the county since 1986, said: “We are just waiting to sort it out and hopefully in a couple of weeks time work will start.”

The change of use would allow it to trade as a restaurant and bar, playing recorded music and selling alcohol, between 11.30am and 12.30am Sunday to Thursday and until 2am on Friday and Saturdays.

He added: “It will be great as it will make it much more lively in Sittingbourne and attract other businesses.”

Swale council must wait and see if anyone nominates the building as a community asset to keep it as a pub before it can rubber stamp the plans.

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