A pub labelled one of the country's most haunted is to reopen almost a year after unexpectedly shutting its doors.

The Black Horse in Pluckley, near Ashford, closed suddenly in November, leaving customers confused after bookings were cancelled.

It came just eight months after couple Lee Varnham and Gemma O'Brien purchased the property in The Street opposite the village's Post Office.

The pub has now been taken over by brewery Stonegate and will be leased and managed by business partners Andy Tarry, from Rainham, and Herne Bay resident and former Halfway House boss in Challock, Samantha Camburn.

Father-of-two Mr Tarry, who also works as a surveyor, expects the watering hole to open in the coming weeks.

The 59-year-old says: "When we arrived everything was gone from curtain rails, carpets and table and chairs.

"So we've started work in the last couple of weeks to redecorate as it was a bit more of an up-market restaurant than a pub before.

"We don't want to lose its pub identity. We want to eventually combine it into a family-friendly pub and restaurant where people can listen to music and enjoy their evening, although it will initially be a place to come for a beer, bowl of chips and bar food.

"It's gradually taking shape with us spending quite a lot of time doing work in the garden as we hope to open in the early part of September."

Featured in the Guinness Book of World Records, Pluckley is considered the most haunted village in Britain.

The Black Horse has also long been known for its supernatural history having been used for tours by multiple ghost hunter groups.

Mr Tarry added: "We saw when we first looked at The Black Horse it had a reputation as a ghost place and wondered if it would be frightening.

"It's such an excellent building, though, which sightseers use for ghost trips and the cast of The Darling Buds of May used it for filming.

"We want to bring that history back to life, but it was actually quite frightening for us when we first arrived to think about what needed doing here.

"But it's got a great feeling to it and we fell in love straightaway."

The semi-detached Grade II-listed property features two floors, a basement beer cellar and attics.

This is alongside a beer garden and a customer car park with space for approximately 20 vehicles.

Yet despite Mr Tarry's excitement, the grandfather-of-four says it could take up to five years and almost six figures of investment before the pub's makeover is complete.

"We have had a lot of support from the brewery, Stonegate, and are looking at expanding the car park as well at some point to get families here with their kids.

"It may drain us doing that but we have a plan and the enthusiasm to make people in the area happy.

"All people seem to hear now is pubs are closing everywhere and turned into flats, but people do like to come out and spend time at places - especially in the summer."

Residents have also voiced their excitement about the pub's new chapter.

One, Lisa Steward, said “it's really good news”.

"The pub would be the heart of the village and I have heard people saying they are excited already as it should provide a meeting place for us here,” she said.

"There are other pubs nearby which aren't really within walking distance of most of Pluckley.

"People want to support village pubs and get to know the people running them, so it will create a good buzz - even if it's just to pop in for a coffee in the middle of the day."