A village pub which has lain empty and derelict for two years is being given a new lease of life - with a Latin American twist.

The former Blean Tavern near Canterbury will become The Hare when it reopens later this month under new hosts Matthew and Paola Hayden.

The couple are currently working flat out and spending "north of £30,000" to get the pub shipshape for customers in time for the launch.

The property was sold at auction last year, but Matthew and Paola, who will be the tenants, hope to buy the freehold in the future if all goes well.

"At a time when so many pubs are closing, it's great to be reopening one for the local community," said 49-year-old Matthew.

And having spent the last 20 years in Miami, where Birchington-born Matthew met his future wife, the couple have exciting plans for the menu.

"I ran a few restaurants there, and obviously there was quite a bit of Latin American influence, which we shall be bringing to Blean with a celebration of street food," he said.

"Customers can expect something a bit different and some mind-blowing flavours, including our signature Cuban sandwich."

But the couple say that in every other respect the pub will be very much traditionally British, with a roaring open fire and local produce and wines.

And it will be very much a family affair, with their daughter Niamh, 20, and son Gabriel, 18, helping out, and their youngest, four-year-old Chloe, adding the charm factor.

Well-travelled Matthew says he brought his family to the UK in September 2019, largely to help Gabriel's rugby career flourish.

He ran the La Cocina Latin American takeaway in Whitstable during lockdown, which proved a big hit.

But it was on his journeys between the town and Canterbury to get supplies that he spotted the tired-looking Blean Tavern with a sign advertising for a tenant.

"It was a bit of a sorry site but I just thought it had great potential, so we met with the owner and took on the lease," he said.

Dominican-born Paola, 44, says they are doing a huge amount of work to refurbish the pub and give it a warm, welcome feel.

"We've still got a lot to do but hope to have an informal opening as soon as we are ready to meet and greet the local community," she said.

"Matthew will be doing most of the cooking and I am looking forward to being at the front of house."

As part of the refurbishment work, a striking new sign has been created using an illustration of a hare, which Matthew designed.

"When that goes up, hopefully it will be eye-catching and everyone will know the pub is back in business," he said.