An Argentine-inspired steak restaurant complete with a “football chapel” has launched at a new harbourside development.

Portenio is one of six businesses planned to join the latest expansion of Folkestone Harbour Arm in restaurants created from upcycled shipping containers.

Owner Paula Cambra wanted to bring a “little piece of Argentina” to the town after moving to the UK 16 years ago.

And she has also brought her country’s love of football with her and created a shrine to two of the national team’s greatest ever players.

“We import all the meat from Argentina, and it is premium,” the 51-year-old said.

“There are vegetarian options and there is a nice range of things for people with intolerances.

“There are also some fish and seafood dishes. Everything is grilled on charcoal, which is from Argentina.

The name Portenio means "people from the port or harbour" and will be an expansion of her streetfood trailer Minutas Al Paso which she has run on the Arm since October 2021.

Ms Cambra decided to launch her restaurant as she wanted to be open all year round and was limited by the weather.

The menu will feature many traditional Argentine dishes including picadas, empanadas, morcillas, humitas, and milanesas as well as a vast wine list from the region.

The restaurant also features a seating area, which has been dubbed a “football chapel” by Ms Cambra – in homage to the current world champions.

“We have Maradona and Messi as the saints,” she said.

“It is a booth for six people so they can be seated there.

“In Argentina, we are massive football fans and this idea was before the World Cup, which we won.

“We are very passionate about food, football and everything that starts with ‘F’.

“We like joking and we don’t take things very seriously.”

Ambitious plans for the new restaurants were revealed last year, with computer-generated images showing blue shipping containers with outdoor seating.

The Harbour Arm is owned and managed by Folkestone Harbour and Seafront Development Company (FHSDC), which has spent millions of pounds renovating it since 2015.

The company previously described this new six-restaurant project as the most 'significant investment' at the site since it was first reopened.

It is now home to several unique spaces - including The Goods Yard, which hosts a range of food and drink kiosks and has seating geared towards a huge outdoor screen, as well as Beachside, which includes the Pilot Bar and Little Rock seafood restaurant.

With the neighbouring Harbour Station, the arm also includes mini golf, shops, a lighthouse champagne bar and a vintage market.