The county's top-rated Italian restaurant has announced it is set to up sticks and move to a neighbouring town.

Basil & Co is leaving its home of three years at 10 High Street, Herne Bay, and relocating four miles down the road to 101 Tankerton Road, near Whitstable.

The eatery, which will launch at its new home on Friday, April 7, is currently the highest-rated Italian restaurant in Kent, according to Tripadvisor reviews.

Hannah Basile, who runs the business with husband and head chef Sammy, told KentOnline: “We’re super excited, the new site in Whitstable presented itself to us and it allows for a lot more opportunities.

“We were looking for expansion ideas but we haven’t been able to find anything in Herne Bay that was available.

“We’ve been in Herne Bay for three years, it’s done really well and it’s helped us become Kent’s top-rated Italian restaurant.

“But with the move, we can do outdoor catering, we’ll have a bigger kitchen which means a bigger menu and fresher food, the new place opens up our opportunities and horizons.”

The new site, which sits between Tankerton Pharmacy and Tankerton Tandoori, was once home to East Coast Dining Room.

The restaurant's menu offers dishes ranging from from lobster bisque to wild boar ravioli.

The new joint will also have its own pastry chef - Hannah’s mum.

It is hoped there will be room to host between 35 and 40 diners, which Hannah says is about double the capacity of the Herne Bay premises.

While the opening hours in the first few weeks will serve as “a trial”, customers can expect a separate lunch and dinner service from Wednesday to Sunday.

“Things will be working on a trial basis at first, it’s important to find the balance as we settle in, but by May-time we’ll have our set menu alongside our specials,” explained the business owner.

“Right now we’re looking at Wednesday to Sunday, 12pm to 3pm lunch service, and 6-til-late dinner service.

“We’re already fully booked for our opening weekend which is amazing and nerve-racking. We’ve had a lot of support from locals.

“We’re going to be doing a similar thing [to our Herne Bay branch]. It’ll be authentic Italian, it’ll still be a family-run restaurant with great service.

The bistro is also waiting to hear back from Canterbury City Council about its alcohol licence, which it hopes will be granted before the grand opening.

The family-run restaurant started life as a street food company in September 2019 but quickly gained momentum and by January the following year, Basil and Co had the keys to 10 High Street, Herne Bay.

Holding first place on Tripadvisor with five stars and 223 out of 238 diners branding it ‘excellent’, it has kept competitors such as Michelin Guide-featured restaurant Bottega Caruso in Margate at bay.

Dartford-born Hannah spoke of her surprise at becoming Kent’s best-rated Italian.

“When we reached number one, we really were shocked," she said.

“For people to recognise the work we do, the service we want to provide and the food Sammy cooks, it’s absolutely unbelievable.

“We are so thankful for every review we’ve ever received. Nowadays Tripadvisor is the biggest platform for hospitality and food, and I’m beyond proud that people take the time to review us.

“It’s important for us to carry on the dynamic at our new place. We don’t want to become just a big restaurant, we’re so passionate about keeping that family style.”

The Herne Bay site will mark its last day of business on Saturday, April 1 with a themed night, before Hannah and Sammy take a week to prepare for the grand opening of the Tankerton eatery.

Though it is fully booked up for its opening weekend, Hannah says there is still availability for Easter Bank Holiday Monday.