A popular village pub is set to reopen after being closed for 18 months – to the relief of many who had feared for its future.

The Tyler's Kiln in Tyler Hill, near Canterbury, has been shut since November 2020, sparking speculation it would be sold or turned into student accommodation.

But bosses have confirmed the pub is reopening later this week – with the business having been taken over by Sturry fine dining restaurant Kathton House.

Owner Allister Collins, who lives in the village, bought The Tyler's Kiln in 2012 before launching it in 2015 following a major refurbishment.

It has since become a key hub of the village, with Allister keen to ensure it "serves the community".

But when the pub remained shut long after Covid restrictions were lifted last May, villagers grew concerned about its future.

For months, mystery shrouded the closure as Allister remained quiet on the subject – assuring those who asked only that the premises would eventually reopen.

And to the relief of many, he has now confirmed it will welcome back customers this week, but under new management

The businessman has apologised to punters for his "radio silence".

He explained that during lockdown, he realised he no longer enjoyed running the food side of the business.

"I made a decision that I was going to look for a kitchen partner – someone I can rely on, who does decent food," he said.

But when restrictions lifted in the summer, he was met with a "perfect storm" of rising staffing and food costs, and staff shortages due to the so-called pingdemic.

In the following months, he found someone to take over the food side of things but eventually decided against the partnership, and toyed with the idea of finding someone to take over the entire business.

"I did a lot of soul-searching, because that pub was everything to me," he said. "It was my baby in a way."

But Allister finally found a "perfect partnership" in Kathton House – a small fine dining restaurant in Sturry, run by Corina Grenham and her husband Justin.

The pair have now closed down their Sturry premises and moved into The Tyler's Kiln, where they will run the entire pub operation, including their restaurant as Kathton House at The Tyler's Kiln.

"Their food is just top notch – it's incredible," said Allister.

"They understood that it has to be a community-led pub, it just needs some excellent food and that is exactly what they can bring.

"Corina was worried a larger venue would lose the intimacy they had at Kathton House, but after she saw it, she really felt it would be perfect and they can offer so much more to customers.

"We have a snug you could have pre-drinks in, you could have a night cap around the big roaring open fireplace - there's just so much opportunity. And of course you've got the great big garden with all-weather awning and heating.

"They've got excellent service, excellent food, and I believe I have an excellent venue."

Allister says dining at the pub will be "more of an experience" than before, with Kathton House offering tasting menus, wine pairings, and a higher price point.

But he insists the community will still be at the heart of the business.

The restaurant will eventually resume serving the ever-popular "village favourites" – classic pub fare such as burgers and fish pies, available for a lower price than the more gourmet menu.

Kathton House will also be taking on The Tyler's Kiln's much-loved Christmas lights display, and the premises will be open for lunch on Christmas Day for the first time.

Allister admitted: "It was never my intention to take so long to reopen the pub.

"I thought I'd be able to provide progress updates throughout, but I'm a businessman and I know that if people got wind that I was having trouble finding people or that negotiations had broken down, it would just weaken my hand.

"So I kept very quiet, and when anyone asked all I could say was that 100% the pub would reopen, I just don't know when.

"I'd like to apologise for the radio silence - there was a method in the madness, and that was that it enabled me to negotiate the best deal for the pub, and the best deal for the community."

"I'd love to see [villagers] all back at the pub, and supporting Kathton House, and I'm sure that we'll make it a success."

The premises is due to reopen "towards the end" of this week. For more up-to-date information, visit The Tyler's Kiln's website.

Grand plans for village

Allister hopes to put his new-found free time to use by developing extra amenities for Tyler Hill.

Having relinquished control of the restaurant, he is keen to set up allotments in the village so residents – and Kathton House – can grow fruit and vegetables.

He is in talks with the council about the project, which he hopes to launch on a 46-acre site he already owns in Tyler Hill.

Last year, he also opened accommodation beside The Tyler's Kiln at Hambrook House.

The site is currently running as a guest house but will soon become a bed-and-breakfast, while a spa is also being added to the site.

Allister says his "long-term goal" is to launch a minibus service for the village, running between Tyler's Kiln, the University of Kent, Blean, and Canterbury.

"The end game is to get enough business at The Tyler's Kiln and associated accommodation to be able to make a minibus service for the village viable," he said.

"Because our transport links in the village are just so poor. Unfortunately the bus doesn't operate very frequently, and residents in the village can be quite cut off sometimes.

"I've always wanted to sort out that problem – it just needs the demand to be able to pay for it."