A new shisha bar has opened in Ashford town centre.

Shisha Cloud in New Rents, at the top of town, opened to the public on Monday.

The lounge bar previewed its menu back in May to rave reviews on their Facebook page.

The venue is the first of its kind in Ashford, with the nearest similar venues being the Asraa Shisha Lounge in Canterbury.

Shisha is a practice which dates back more than 500 years and originates from Middle Eastern countries such as Egypt and Turkey.

It is a way of smoking flavoured tobacco, which is usually burned using charcoal and filtered using a pipe and water.

The user then inhales the smoke, and the average session can last up to an hour.

Shisha lounges are becoming increasingly popular across England, particularly in London, with many people using it as a social activity by sharing their shisha pipe and flavours around a table. Shisha lounges have also proved popular in university towns across England and Wales.

In July 2007, smoking in enclosed public places such as bars and restaurants was made illegal in the UK.

Shisha lounges therefore must comply with the Health Act 2006 which ensures all shisha smoking and waterpipes are used in open-air locations.

In some venues, smoking shisha is allowed with a roof or ceiling overhead if at least half of the structure’s walls are open on a permanent basis.

Shisha Cloud has a large outdoor patio area at the back of the premises.

An Ashford Borough Council spokesperson said: “The council’s planning officers are dealing with a retrospective application from Shisha Cloud regarding a smoking shelter. The application is currently pending a decision.

“Shisha Cloud have also applied for a premises licence, the details of which can be viewed on our website via www.ashford.gov.uk/licences-issued- and-notices

“The consultation for the licence closes on Friday, August 26.”

Shisha Cloud has planned to have a grand opening on Friday August 5 with a special offer of one free drink if a shisha is purchased.