A scheme to open a floating restaurant on the River Medway has gained steerage after being granted planning permission.

Entrepreneur James Bailey said he was “very happy” when Maidstone councillors unanimously accepted his proposals for The Barge restaurant to be moored at the Undercliff, next to the Archbishops’ Palace in Maidstone’s town centre.

He said: “It’s been three years in the planning.

"We’ve held countless discussions; with the council, with police, with the fire brigade and with other river users, and we’ve taken everybody’s comments on board.

“Now we are looking forward to opening the restaurant in the summer, hopefully mid-June.”

The 120-cover restaurant should be in full swing in plenty of time for this year’s 30th anniversary of the Maidstone River Festival in July.

The restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, and will include some seating on the quayside.