A Kent restaurant has been ranked among the top five in the UK by a highly-respected chef who has appeared on several TV cooking shows.

The Folkestone Wine Company appears on the list compiled by Gordon Ramsey protégée Angela Hartnett, who praises the “phenomenal” food on offer.

Run by Dave Hart and Polly Pleasence, daughter of actor Donald Pleasence, the Church Street venue has been serving food in the town for almost eight years.

Opened in 2015 after chef Dave bought the former Linda’s Tea Room, the restaurant serves French-inspired cuisine with ingredients sourced from across Europe.

Describing the eatery, Angela Hartnett told Condé Nast Traveller: “It’s not really so much of an old-fashioned bistro, but it has a very small menu: maybe three or four nibbly bits, three main courses and four of five starters and that’ll be it.

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“I’d definitely get a table at the front so you can see out onto the High Street. It’s absolutely lovely. It’s a relaxed place for a really easy lunch or supper with, obviously, amazing wine.”

Angela Hartnett is currently the Chef-Patron for Murano in Mayfair, Café Murano in St James’s & Covent Garden and Cucina Angelina in Courchevel, France.

She has also appeared on Hell’s Kitchen, Masterchef UK and the BBC’s competition show Best Home Cook.

The Folkestone Wine Company’s leasehold is currently listed on Rightmove and has been priced at just under £80,000.

Earlier this year, the eatery placed first in The Times’ Britain’s 20 best places to eat on the coast.

It also placed sixth in The Guardian’s 2021-22 best places to eat seafood around the UK coast.

The restaurant is being listed with Christie & Co and states online: “The business has been owned by our clients for many years and has a highly regarded reputation as one of the best places to eat seafood.”

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The site includes two separate seating areas, customer toilets, a fully equipped commercial kitchen and a wine cellar.

Their menu, which changes daily, has previously included dishes such as diver-caught scallops with lemon beurre blanc and crispy duck served with beetroot and a blood orange salad.

Angela Hartnett added: “Dave does one of the best crème brûlées I’ve ever had in my life. He has really classical training under his belt but also a very modern touch. I’ve been there quite a few times, and if you can get the crème brûlée or the Tart Tatin, they’re phenomenal.”