It would surely take brave entrepreneurs to open a new pub at a time the licensed trade is under increasing financial pressure with many businesses being forced to close.

But that is just what Jim Cleaver and Charlotte Hogben have done this week with the launch of The Coach between Sandwich and Deal.

They bought the former Coach and Horses in the village of Hacklinge, which had been closed for a year, and invested £1 million in buying and completely renovating and refurbishing the property to create a bright, modern but cosy and welcoming new venue.

But the couple are no novices to the trade and already run the 81, Beach Street restaurant in Deal, The Granville Inn at Lower Hardres in Canterbury and the Coastguard at St Margaret’s Bay.

Now they are bringing their expertise to the newly-branded The Coach which Jim is confident will be a success.

“I must have driven past the place a thousand times and always thought it had huge potential,” said the 51-year-old chef who opened his first restaurant business in Deal in 2005.

“So when the owners retired after 20 years, we took the decision to buy it which had led to us completely gutting the place from top to bottom, altogether investing around £1 million.

“Despite the widely reported difficulties the licensed trade is going through, we have to be bullish and believe that if we are doing everything well, it will be a success.

“But we can’t just be alright or good – we have to be fabulous and customers have a great experience.

“Our food won’t be fancy and chasing Michelin stars, but it will have a bit more of a twist and finesse to traditional pub food using the fresh local produce which is all around us.

“We also have a terrific location with a lovely garden and want to create a place where people want to meet and eat.

“But it will still be a pub where customers can just pop in for a pint.”

Jim and Charlotte and their staff had a ‘soft’ opening on Tuesday offering a ‘nibbles’ and ‘small bites’ menu and are open every day except Mondays.

They will launch their full menu with classic favourites on June 13.