A mum is planning to bring her Latin American passion to a cafe saying she is closer to reaching her dream of running her own restaurant “little by little”.

Ceci’s Corner launched inside The Latte Lounge in Tenterden earlier this month after the owners of the cafe had to close it due to other business commitments.

Cecilia Arias is now offering cuisine from Ecuador, her homeland, at the venue while current owner Sharen Galvin focuses on her nursery school in Ashford.

Mrs Arias, who also has a gift shop in the town where she sells handmade jewellery, says her dream has always been to share her cooking.

"We are calling it an expansion because we have a small gift shop near The Latte Lounge," she said

"This has been a dream for us as a family because we are from South America and already in our gift shop we bring things from Ecuador and Colombia and now we have opened Ceci's Corner because we want to share a touch of Latin American food.

"I think people will recognise the name and link that the food and jewellery is by the same person. I am proud to be British and Ecuadorian and I am excited to share the food."

The business owner says it is currently a six-month project.

"I spoke to the owner who said she was looking at selling the business but had one year left of the lease," she said.

"We spoke about it and she said I could set up Ceci's Corner inside. If this six months works, we might take it on.

"I pay rent and bills and for me it is an opportunity to show what we can offer.

"I would love to open a whole restaurant - that is my passion."

"Little by little, I am reaching my dream..."

Ms Galvin opened The Latte Lounge during Covid after owning her pre-school business in Ashford for 40 years and wanted to “try something new”.

"I ran the coffee successfully with my mum and twin daughters for two-and-a-half years," she said.

"My current nursery is relocating soon and is taking up a considerable amount of my time.

"I could not be in two places at the same time so I closed the coffee shop.

"After this, Cecilia offered to manage the shop as she wanted to expand her homemade jewellery she also has always wanted to experience coffee shop life so it was a good temporary compromise for us both."

"Once the nursery relocation has gone ahead then I am sure myself and Cecilia will reassess how we want to move forward."

Mrs Arias moved to Tenterden four years ago and previously lived in London.

"Two years ago we decided to open the gift shop," she said.

"I thought I had nothing to lose. Making jewellery was my hobby so I thought I would start selling it.

"It is small but it is very cute and we can afford it.

"Little by little, I am reaching my dream. It is my time now to do what I love."