A row of city centre shops which have stood empty for almost three years could become home to another burger chain restaurant.

7Bone Burger has applied to the city council for a licence to trade from the vacant units in Butchery Lane, Canterbury.

It had previously been earmarked for a Turtle Bay 'Caribbean' style eatery but after a lengthy delay the company pulled out without revealing why.

Now 7Bone is requesting a premises licence for the site which, if approved, will add to the choice of burger restaurants in the city centre, including the neighbouring Byron Burgers as well as Five Guys, Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Burger King.

The new restaurant wants to open until up to midnight at weekends.

Founded by entrepreneurs Matthew Mollicone and Richard Zammit in Southampton in 2013, the chain now has nine restaurants but Canterbury's will be the first in Kent.

Burgers are priced from £8.25 and Mr Mollicone says: "7Bone Burger Co has caught the imagination and taste of diners because our classic, good-value American comfort food is dished up in the atmosphere of a feel-good speakeasy joint, with fast and casual eating."

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