A landlord stripped of his licence because of a single word thinks it has cost him almost £30,000 in lost sales, but he is now back in business.

On Tuesday, Shailesh Dixit, who has run The Local in Chartham for eight years, won a two-month battle to recover his alcohol licence from Canterbury City Council.

Its licensing committee granted him the nod after a small army of villagers gathered to speak in support of the pub.

It lost its licence earlier this year when the city council’s licensing department discovered that in 2014 it changed its name from The Local Pub Trading Company Chartham Ltd to The Local Pub Company Chartham Ltd after the advice of accountants.

It has only been able to serve alcohol at weekends by using its temporary events notices.

“In terms of the gross we have lost as a result of this I think it’s close to £30,000,” Mr Dixit, 51, said.

“The Local is a hub for villagers. It’s the heart of the community. It’s multicultural and multi-generational and it represents a place people from all walks of life can go" - Lucy Turbitt

“One of the worst things that has happened in all this is that the Exchequer lost out as well.

“About 40% of the money we would have taken would have gone to the government in duty.

“I’m pleased with the result of the hearing and we are looking forward to reopening properly.”

Mr Dixit had dismissed the issue of his company name change as a “bureaucratic red herring” which in no way altered the way the pub operated

However, it meant a new licensing application had to be submitted.

Among those to speak in support of the pub was pharmacist Lucy Turbitt.

She said: “The Local is a hub for villagers. It’s the heart of the community. It’s multicultural and multi-generational and it represents a place people from all walks of life can go.

“It is not the den of iniquity that it is made out to be.”

Regular Kevin Beasley added: “Ever since Shailesh took the pub over it has been a very welcoming place.

“It has raised thousands of pounds for charity. It supports all the local sports teams and is a big part of the community.”

However, a number of neighbours objected to the licensing application, complaining that they are disturbed by noise from the pub, which includes live music and people leaving at night.

Sam Proctor, who lives opposite in The Crescent, said: “This pub is situated in a residential area, surrounded by homes, mine being one.

“I do not believe that a village pub should be allowed to stay open like a nightclub.

“Ever since The Local has had a late licence there has been a total lack of respect for residents living close by.”

Mrs Proctor claimed this included repeated visits by the emergency services.

Mr Dixit denied this and told the committee that he had obtained information from the police and ambulance to say that it had not happened.

He said: “We’ve been in the village 25 years and we’ve been at the pub eight years.

“I recognise there are people who are not pub-goers and I would rather they came and talked to me so that we could address any issues.”

Among its conditions, the pub has agreed to close 30 minutes earlier than before and not to play music outside after 9pm.

It will see last orders called at 11.30pm every night except Friday and Saturday, when the last sale of alcohol will be at 12.30am.

Customers will have half-an-hour to drink up before the pub closes.

Committee chairman Cllr Ashley Clark said: “We recognise what the pub does for the community and we hope that everybody there can live in peace and harmony. Thank you.”