A 16th-century village pub that sat empty for years has finally reopened after six months of renovations.

The Honest Miller in Brook, near Ashford, was taken over by Kate Shearcroft and her partner Toby Toms in September, after it fell into disrepair since closing in 2020.

Since January, the pair have been painstakingly carrying out renovations to restore the Grade II-listed building to its former glory.

The main section of the pub has now been transformed into a cosy seating area and the first customers were welcomed in on Thursday, July 18, for the reopening.

Ms Shearcroft, who will run the site alongside her sister Helen Greencroft, said: “It is nice to be open now because it feels like the renovations went on forever.

“People have said it's lovely and feels cosy and relaxing.

“We got a family company to fix the windows but otherwise, we have done it all ourselves which is nice because you feel part of the building.

“We had to take everything right back to the original plasterwork so it has taken time but we are pleased we have done it this way.

“I hope they see we have tried to bring out some of the heritage too.”

While the inside areas by the bar are mostly complete, there is still plenty of work to keep the owners busy.

The weatherboarding outside is next on the list for restoration and the toilets still need upgrading.

Six bell tents for glamping are set to be introduced next summer with an outdoor toilet block, which planning permission has already been granted for.

Ms Shearcroft added: “We want to start doing a monthly quiz evening and have some family events.

“We also have a wall where local artists can display their work.

“Every six weeks or so it will change so people can show their works and even sell a few pieces.

A children's area with a mud kitchen has been created in the garden.

Outline planning permission was previously put forward to turn the vacant coach house at the front of the site into a holiday let, but it is currently being used as a store and will eventually be a personal workshop for Mr Toms who is a classic car enthusiast.

Since closing just before lockdown in 2020, the venue, which dates back to the 16th-century, fell into disrepair, with letters missing from the sign and paint peeling.

Admiral Taverns, which previously owned the venue in The Street, put it on the market for about £500,000 shortly after it closed.

It was then snapped up by the Churchill Property Group (CPG), which submitted extensive plans to revamp the pub, convert the coach house into a holiday rental, and build four houses on land off Troy Town Lane.

But a group of Brook residents voiced their opposition to the redevelopment fearing it would "redefine" the history of the area.

But now the new owners are focusing on redefining the pub and hope to attract locals as well as tourists, due to the surrounding countryside and proximity to Canterbury and Ashford.