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Dansaki to host pre-launch party at Elwick Place, Ashford this weekend

A mini festival is set to take place outside a leisure complex in Ashford to celebrate the upcoming arrival of a new restaurant.

It comes after bosses revealed that Dansaki is set to open in Elwick Place in March 2020.

DJ Yung Milli will be at the event. Picture: Cene magazine
DJ Yung Milli will be at the event. Picture: Cene magazine

Dubbed 'dansFEST', the event will give visitors an idea of what to expect when it fully launches next year.

Visitors will be able to sample Afro-Caribbean dishes and watch live performances from Zulu dancers and international bands.

DJ Yung Milli from London-based radio station The Beats will be playing at the event alongside Dansaki's very own DJ Skwale.

It will run from 12pm to 7pm in the Elwick Place courtyard.

The catering firm has been serving up Afro-Caribbean food and entertainment to business and private clients across the county since 2011.

Isaac Enakimio and Funmi Aina are behind the project
Isaac Enakimio and Funmi Aina are behind the project

Owner Funmi Aina hoped that her restaurant would open this month, but it has now been pushed back until the end of March.

She said: “Dansaki Restaurant offers a unique service, the first of its kind in Ashford and we strongly believe that Ashford borough is ready for a warm and friendly place with amazing afro-Caribbean food.

"It will be a destination spot where you always know you will get the best of everything.”

A vibrant tapas lounge and bar will be installed inside the 2,325 sq ft unit, which will cater for about 110 diners.

It will be open six days a week for lunch, dinner and late night food and entertainment.

Dance performances will run throughout the day outside Elwick Place. Picture: Cene Magazine
Dance performances will run throughout the day outside Elwick Place. Picture: Cene Magazine

Around 10 to 25 people will be employed at the new restaurant.

"The aim is to create a restaurant that combines a cosy, unique and innovative casual dining experience with amazing food and entertainment," said Ime Bassey, front of house and events manager at Dansaki.

"The mission is to make afro-Caribbean cuisine a mainstream service in Kent as well as introduce a new demographic to Ashford and Kent as a whole."

Once operational, the restaurant will host various events from small scale open mic and comedy nights to fashion shows and staged festivals with a cultural twist.

Bosses at Ashford Borough Council and developers Stanhope PLC opened the £90 million hotel, leisure and cinema complex opened almost a year ago.

Dansaki will join AIMREC, Picturehouse and Travelodge at Elwick Place, as well Macknade and Snap Fitness which are also set to open in the New Year.

For more news on big brands and good places to enjoy a tasty bite, head to our Eat, Drink, Shop section

Read more: All the latest news from Ashford

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