An exotic blend of East and West has become Clacton’s Turkish delight.

Since opening on the seafront, overlooking the pier, Kassaba has been the taste of the town with its meats, “mengle” grills and salads.

The restaurant in the former Geisha Hotel at 7-9 Marine Parade is the fourth in a chain being developed by owner Iftihar Khan, who plans other outlets across Essex.

His first Kassaba was in Crouch Hill in London’s East End, which opened five years ago and became popular with celebrities such as Bernie Ecclestone’s young Brazilian wife Fabiana Flosi and stars from Eastenders.

The venture led to others in Birmingham, Ilford and Gants Hill in north-east London, where If, as he prefers to be known, lives today with his English-born wife.

If is of Afghan/ Gurka ancestry and came to London as a child. His father fought the Germans for the British and If grew up in London’s East End, becoming a Cockney like any other kid raised there.

“This is our country. I will die for England any day of the week,” said the 57-year-old.

He voted for Brexit too, saying this has caused some arguments. He explained before the EU people had to earn their right their right to live in Britain, rather than so many being able to come in based on their passport and then claim benefits, something he has never done in his 36 years in the hospitality trade.

This helps explain the ethos of his restaurant, “celebrating the cultures of East and West,” through dance, music and food.

Kassaba means village in Turkish, or in Arabic, a red wall to protect the forts. The food is Eastern Mediterranean, mainly Turkish, and the restaurant hosts belly dancing on Friday and Saturday nights.

Future plans include live jazz, plus music from the 1970s. A cocktail/mocktail lounge/bar is set to open downstairs this month, adding to a restaurant that can seat 180, which also has al fresco dining outside.

“The idea is to invite people for a meal and be part of the entertainment. You stay for the evening and you go home very happy,” he said.

“It’s a complete night out- an experience of the East coupled with the West. We are British, we are European, we very proud to be British,” If continued.

This is reflected in the ten staff, Westerners and Easterners, working together in a family-type environment.

If said he chose the seafront site as it is the busiest and prime location in Clacton, where he hopes to “make it happen again,” recalling Clacton’s past as a bustling seaside resort.

Kassaba, run by manager Aydin Ozkaya, who is Turkish, opened a few days before Clacton’s airshow. It was “mobbed” by customers as 250,000 came to Clacton for the event, so much so staff sometimes struggled to cope, leading to a couple of complaints.

But now business has settled down, good reviews are being given on TripAdvisor, and If is confident his new venue, by offering something different, will become “a destination” for diners for miles around.