A town’s first African restaurant is set to close just a year after opening.

Abby Adesina, who runs Abby’s Kitchen just off Sittingbourne High Street, says her business is no longer financially viable.

The mum-of-four, who is originally from Nigeria and moved to Kent when she was 20, started the business as a takeaway operation while living in Dartford in 2019.

After moving to Great Easthall in July 2023, the former mental health nurse noticed there was no African cuisine available on the high street.

She decided to try her hand at running a restaurant and welcomed her first customers to the takeaway in March last year, filling a spot in Roman Square, opposite Poundland.

Ms Adesina serves Nigerian dishes such as Jollof rice, fried rice, meat and puff pies, hot and spicy goat meat, and a range of soups, including pepper soup and meat soup.

However, the 36-year-old says things have not worked out as she would like, with the business not attracting enough customers to keep it alive.

“We are looking to sell the lease of the shop due to the way business has been going,” she said.

“It is a tough decision, but with the way things are going, we can't keep it going.

“We will keep it running until we have a buyer for the five-year lease.

“I think people are just financially struggling in the country. A lot of people are just making do.”

Before Abby’s Kitchen opened, the building had been occupied by Road House, which was known for its American-style burgers and milkshakes.