Press release

12^thAugust 2019

The UK's very first Dansaki Afro-Caribbean restaurant will open at Elwick Place in Ashford, bringing an exciting new food and drink concept to the town.

In a joint announcement today (12^th August), Dansaki, Ashford Borough Council and Stanhope PLC confirmed that the company has chosen Ashford, one of the fastest growing towns in the South East, to unveil its exciting new restaurant brand.

Dansaki aims to serve an exquisite range of Afro-Caribbean and continental cuisine, creating a "destination restaurant" offering a fine dining experience in a cosy and welcoming atmosphere. Décor will feature bright African colours and amazing tribal patterns and artwork on the walls.

The restaurant will cater for around 110 diners and boasts three venues in one - a tapas lounge, cosmopolitan bar, and full-service dining. During the summer months, diners can sit outside on the patio and enjoy a special summer menu, including BBQ grills and themed drinks.

Dansaki will open its doors to the public in December and is already working with the hospitality team at Ashford College to offer apprenticeships to local youngsters keen on a career in the industry.

The people behind the brand

Dansaki's Founder and Director is Ms Funmi Aina, a talented chef and businesswoman who runs an established and highly successful Afro-Caribbean event catering firm which serves corporate and private clients across Kent, London and the South East.      

"Afro-Caribbean food is not in the mainstream and we need to do more to bring it into the limelight. What we offer is very different and I think people in Ashford are going to enjoy visiting our restaurant and having a great time with their family and friends," said Funmi, who is writing her first Afro-Caribbean cook book.

Funmi said she looks forward to delivering a range of events and special themed nights, such as an Afro-Caribbean midsummer party, BBQs, local artist's openings, Easter dinners, and much more. Local businesses will also be encouraged to use the venue for corporate hospitality and dining events.

Isaac Enakimio, Funmi's brother-in-law and business partner in the Dansaki enterprise, is overseeing branding, marketing, social media and website activity for the new restaurant, capitalising on his strong business connections in the area. He believes that now is the right time for a business with its roots in Nigerian culture to be a huge success here.

"In recent years there has been a massive rise in the profile and popularity of Nigerian music and culture, the arts, movies and entertainment, with Nigerian artists winning awards and making a name for themselves on the global stage. Dansaki will tap into that, we will feature the best of African music and art, with visiting artists and themed events."  

Why choose Ashford?

Funmi says family living in Ashford urged her to choose the town. More familiar with the north of the county, she visited and liked what she saw. "As someone with a keen interest in interior design, I walked into the Picturehouse and thought: ‘This feels like me!'

"We will offer a unique experience and we strongly believe that Ashford is ready for a warm and friendly place with excellent Afro-Caribbean and continental cuisine which is both sophisticated and also welcoming."

Isaac said: "I have lived in Ashford for 15 years and I've seen at first-hand how much the town has grown and prospered in that time. The outlook for the future is exceptionally positive here and I think Dansaki is a perfect fit for the town as it develops."

A warm welcome in Ashford

Cllr Gerry Clarkson, Leader of Ashford Borough Council, said: "The entrepreneurs behind Dansaki have chosen Ashford to launch their first restaurant in the UK and that decision is a huge sign of confidence in the town. I'd like to extend a very warm welcome to them and wish them good fortune in the future.

"Securing Dansaki's investment is a notable success for us. With an exciting new Afro-Caribbean restaurant brand coming to Ashford it sends a strong message that an increasing number of far-sighted and ambitious businesses are keen to share in the Ashford success story."

Gary Bourne, Development Director at project partner Stanhope Plc, said: "Dansaki brings an exciting new dimension and additional choice to Ashford's restaurant scene. A priority is to boost Ashford's evening economy and, as a destination restaurant, Dansaki will support that by providing the local community with a vibrant new dining experience, as well as drawing visitors to the town centre from further afield."

ENDS

A selection of photos are available upon request

Notes for editors

• Planning permission was granted to Stanhope PLC in December 2015 by Ashford Borough Council, and a legal agreement for funding the construction of the Elwick Place scheme on land owned by the authority was finalised in May 2017.
• The scheme is a cornerstone of Ashford Borough Council's ambition to be able to operate free of government grant. It is using the income generated through rents and business rates to sustain and improve its services without the need for central government funding.
• Elwick Place is home to the Elwick Etchings, a public arts initiative commissioned by Stanhope and delivered by Kent public arts company, Strange Cargo, which comprises 100 memories from local residents of all ages. To establish a longstanding legacy within the local community, the memories have been engraved into paving slabs across the site.

For more information contact:

Jack

Work.experience@zesttheagency.com

01634 671167