Two new independent restaurants are giving a boost to casual dining at St James Dover with both opening in Dover for the first time. American-inspired kitchen and bar, Hancock’s, and dessert parlour, Kaspa’s.
Dover’s new retail and leisure development, owned by Legal & General Investment Management Real Assets, is the result of a project investment of £53.25 million.
Hancock’s American Kitchen & Bar will offer traditional dishes from the US southern states, while visitors to Kaspa’s will enjoy the world’s favourite hot and cold desserts under one roof.
David Chick, Director of Hancock’s Restaurants, said: “Echoing our community ethos, St James Dover is a natural choice for our family-owned business to open its seventh location. Taking inspiration from the mix of dishes which best reflect America’s eclectic larder, we provide a great destination for residents and visitors alike to enjoy, whether it be for brunch, lunch, dinner or a special occasion.”
Hancock’s and Kaspa’s join existing casual dining operators Nando’s and Costa Coffee, as well as the recently-opened Burger King. The diverse leisure offer includes a six-screen Cineworld and 24- hours-a-day Anytime Fitness gym, as well as a 108-bed Travelodge and a 445 space car park.
Azhar Rehman, Founder & CEO of Kaspa’s Desserts, said: “Our aim is to change the way that people view desserts. We strive to create an environment in our parlours where enjoying our exciting and extensive menu with friends and family is an unforgettable experience. We very much look forward to welcoming new customers at St James Dover.”
The development is located on the A20, the main road leading to the Port of Dover. The port saw some 11.7 million passengers, including 200,000 cruise passengers, travel through in 2017. In addition, Dover is the busiest passenger ferry port in the UK, and the second busiest cruise terminal in the UK, over 650,000 tourists visit the town each year, especially to see the world-famous White Cliffs and the Castle.
In attracting customers, retail and leisure brands and visitors to the town, St James Dover has been a catalyst for the regeneration of the town as a whole. Additional investment into the town by Dover District Council and others, including a redevelopment of the waterfront, will further increase the town’s vibrancy.