A familiar face from reality television show The Only Way is Essex (TOWIE) helped a long-standing Gants Hill restaurant celebrate its reopening on Sunday.

Ilford Recorder: The re-opening of Kentons in Gants HillThe re-opening of Kentons in Gants Hill (Image: Archant)

Kentons, in Woodford Avenue, is now under new ownership and has had a major refurbishment which has seen it fitted out with new tables, chairs, flooring and a swish bar.

On Sunday, TOWIE’s Gemma Collins joined Ilford North MP Lee Scott and Redbridge Council leader Cllr Keith Prince for the reopening

The restaurant was closed for two-and-a-half weeks before reopening to customers last week.

New owner Thangarajah Kuganeswaran oversaw the renovation, with the restaurant remaining under the existing management of Denise and David Kenton, who have been serving customers in Gants Hill for more than 30 years.

Denise said of the refurbishment: “It’s beautiful. People have been really complementary.”

The restaurant’s menu will remain unchanged.