About Little Havana

Owner

Having started his journey in 1970 as a local upholsterer, John went on to achieve world renowned success by making custom furniture pieces for over 50 years, with that business still operating in our neighbouring town of Broadstairs.

Having had the opportunity to travel to various parts of the world, John fell in love with Havana, so much so he returned there on holiday many more times over the following years. In particular, John's passion for Havana came from Latin music, Salsa dancing, the culture and the cuisine. This inspired him to want to bring a taste of Havana to his local town of Cliftonville. An opportunity arose for John to work out of the very shop where his upholstery journey started in 1970, and with their being sentimental attachment to the building, John knew what he wanted to transform the space into. Little Havana was then born from a recollection of his time in Cuba, and having spent over 50 years as an upholsterer, John paid particular attention to detail when bringing his vision of Little Havana to life. 

 Ashley Hare – Head Chef @ Little Havana

Ash is an accomplished Chef with over 20 years of experience in the culinary world. Trained at the prestigious East Kent College, renowned for producing celebrated chefs like Frank Thompson and Gary Rhodes, Ashley honed his craft under some of the industry's finest.

He has spent the last four years as Executive Chef at a local Country Park, catering for weddings, running the restaurant kitchen and a street food truck. 

In his first head chef role he spent a decade transforming a modest sandwich shop into a trendy café and a go-to breakfast and lunch destination. Under his leadership, the café earned glowing reviews and drew crowds eager to experience its vibrant menu.

Ash draws inspiration from all cultures, but has a particular love for Caribbean and South American cuisine, which is why he is so excited about the launch of Little Havana.

“I am delighted to be part of the talented team at Little Havana, and for the chance to cook food from a region of the world I am so passionate about. I can’t wait to share some of the vibrancy and flavour of Cuban cooking with the local community.”

A Selection of Classic and Tailormade Drinks

Whether you're wanting a cold beer, a glass of wine, or a cocktail, we are sure to provide. All of the cocktails we serve are original recipes that have been inspired by the origin of the drink, keeping close to tradition with a personal touch by our in-house mixologist - Dan Bannister. 

Authenticity was in mind when our cocktails were being designed, and the same could be said for our selection of wine, which has been curated according to the expertly crafted tapas menu.