The opening date for a swanky new-style bar and restaurant at an out-of-town shopping centre has been announced.

Sotto Lounge will be welcoming customers at its latest “home from home” venue at Dockside, Chatham, from May 26, Bank Holiday Monday.

Part of Loungers, a rapidly growing hospitality group founded in the West Country, it’s described as having a “home-from-home” ambience.

About 30 jobs will be created at the vacant unit which has been completely refurbished with the hospitality group’s distinctive décor.

Heavily patterned wallpapers, tiling and stripped wooden floors now feature alongside oversized vintage sofas, upholstered lounge chairs, eclectic artwork and statement wall and pendant lighting.

Chatham was one of the first dockyards to begin submarine construction in the early 1900s. As a nod to this, the name Sotto, which means under or beneath in Italian, was chosen.

Sotto Lounge will cater for all tastes throughout the day with a varied all-day menu - from coffee, brunch, dinner and drinks.

John English, head of community at Loungers, said: “We can’t wait to open the doors of Sotto Lounge on Bank Holiday Monday.

“Our Lounges strive to put community at the heart of hospitality and our teams always go the extra mile to make a difference.

“They are actively encouraged to connect with their communities by working with local groups, charities, organisations, and businesses that are at the heart of the fabric of local life.

“We are very much looking forward to welcoming local residents to Sotto Lounge.”

Teaming up with The Street Angels, they will donate 50p from every burger and 20p from each coffee sold in the first month of trading to the charity.

The all-day menu will feature everything from breakfast, tapas and salads to burgers and buttermilk fried chicken, with those following a vegan or gluten-free diet, well catered for with their very own menus.

Particular attention will be paid to families with a selection of games, books, colouring pencils and pads on offer. A full menu, high chairs and baby-changing facilities are also available.

Lounges are found across England and Wales, principally located in secondary suburban high streets and small-town centres.

The sites are characterised by informal, unique interiors with an emphasis on a warm, comfortable atmosphere, often described as a “home-from-home” with elements of coffee shop culture, the British pub and dining.

Sotto Lounge will be the 254th Lounge in the group.

Across Kent the chain has branches in Ramsgate, Faversham, Deal, Westwood Cross, Bromley and Sittingbourne.

The firm also owns the Cosy Club brand, which has an outlet in Canterbury.

The newest branch is next door to a new McDonald’s, currently being refurbished and which is due to open on August 6.

Meanwhile, Barclays has applied to open a branch at the former Clarks shoe shop at the centre and also to install an ATM at the main entrance.

It will be a welcome addition to Dockside where the nearest cash machine is inside the Co-op next to the Ship and Trades pub.

Clarks reopened at a new neighbouring unit at the beginning of this month.

Choice has now moved from the front of the store to the back in a space formerly occupied by Peacocks, which vacated the centre last October.

Centre manager Anthony Sutton previously said the forthcoming changes at the centre, which opened more than 20 years ago, would support its ambition to become a “regional retail and leisure destination”.