Franco Manca plans for first Kent restaurant in Canterbury
Trendy sourdough pizza chain Franco Manca has found a location in Canterbury for its first Kent restaurant
Pic: @francomancapizza
Trendy sourdough pizza chain Franco Manca has found a location in Canterbury for its first Kent restaurant.
Plans have been lodged with Canterbury City Council to convert the current Costa Coffee cafe building on the corner of the high street and Guildhall Street into the newest branch of the popular pizzeria.
In planning documents, put together by planning consultants Firstplan, Franco Manca sets out its intention to alter the building for the new restaurant.
Last year, the company revealed it was looking to open in the city, alongside other potential sites in the UK.
Now, with the application submitted, the chain hopes the plan will come to fruition at the Canterbury site, which is Grade II listed.
Firstplan said: “It sits on the site of the former Guildhall, which is understood to have been demolished in the mid 20th century, although the remains of a vault are still preserved at basement level.
“As such, the site is Grade II listed and forms a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
“It is also within the Canterbury City Conservation Area.
“Reflecting its city centre setting, the surrounding area comprises predominantly restaurants, retail and other leisure uses at ground and first floors with residential dwellings on the floors above.”
Franco Manca was founded in 2008 in Brixton Market by Giuseppe Mascoli and artisan baker Bridget Hugo, who were asked by friend Franco to take over his pizzeria Francos, which had been open since 1986.
Neither of them had run a restaurant before but it took off and grew rapidly.
The company, which now has restaurants across the UK, prides itself on “staying true to its roots” and using small suppliers as well as daily freshly made dough and Neapolitan-inspired cuisine.
Pic: Google