The New Year will mark a new beginning for the café at the end of the pier.

The establishment, formerly Jasin's Restaurant, will reopen as Deal Pier Kitchen on Friday, January 4 - almost exactly a year to the date it closed.

The announcement comes in the same week new occupants Tim Biggs, 29, and Rebecca Hodson 27, have commenced their refurbishment.

Work includes the installation of a new kitchen and bar area from which they'll be serving an all-day dining menu.

The friends who previously worked together at Canterbury wedding venue Winters Barns say they will also be holding five soft openings throughout December.

The ticket only events will be a chance for residents to catch a first glimpse of the modern café and will be sold on a first come first served basis via their social media pages.

Their vision is to create an all year round venue catering for all needs with communal benches for interactivity, high speed Wi-Fi for workers and upholstered furnishings to add warmth.

Mr Biggs said: "The stunning location and the premises are awe inspiring and we feel it deserves a high-quality product to match.

"We want it to be community focused as well as commercial.

"Our soft openings will give people an idea of the quality of food we'll be serving."

The duo beat off strong competition to secure the 20-year lease from Dover District Council (DDC).

During a one-hour interview during the summer, they won over a committee at DDC with their business plan and samples from the menu such as yoghurt granola pots, sausage rolls, carrot cake and a takeaway style superfood salads.

They were announced as the new occupiers in September and are now looking to recruit a new team including a head chef, up to two sous chefs and a 10 front of house staff.

It will offer table service and be dog friendly.

Miss Hodson said: "We were so pleased, elated to been chosen. It's a huge opportunity.

"The stunning location and the premises are awe inspiring and we feel it deserves a high-quality product to match" - Tim Biggs

"We'd like there to be colour so we've commissioned some blue recycled sea plastic tables. We're looking to be as 'green' as possible with what we do.

"We'd also like to make it more winter focused so on a cold day people come in for two to three hours rather than just coming in for a coffee and leaving."

Mr Biggs from Canterbury has more than 10 years of experience working in pubs and bars across the county.

While studying his sport science degree at Christ Church University, the soon to be dad ran Alberry's Wine Bar and also worked at city pub The Foundry.

He currently owns TB Bars Limited which provides a beverage and bar service to Winters Barn but the contract will cease at the end of 2018.

Miss Hodson from Sissinghurst is the director of The Farm Street Kitchen, a street food truck based in London. She is also a professional singer.

Future plans include hosting ticketed evening events such as aprons and hammers nights - where guests get involved with the cooking - and steak and lobster suppers.

They'd also like to exhibit work by local artist and photographers.

• Find out more at 'Deal Pier Kitchen' on Facebook and Instagram