A couple taking on their second pub at a time when the industry is being crippled by the cost-of-living crisis say they are ready for the challenge.

Tom Gravett and Renata Peret are just weeks away from reopening The George Inn in Newnham, near Faversham.

The Shepherd Neame pub shut suddenly in March after the previous tenants confessed they were “financially drowning”.

But Tom and Renata, who also run the Three Mariners in Oare, are hopeful of making a success of the village inn.

“We do have to be mindful of the finance otherwise there’s no longevity to it,” said father-of-two Tom.

“The reality of the world at the moment is that you need to make sure you’re taking a certain amount.

“But this place really lends itself to being super cosy; we think it’ll be so beautiful in the winter.

“Time doesn’t stop when you open a pub; you break the seal and you have to get a feel for it to see what the vibe is before you make the drastic changes - if any.”

The couple say they were instantly smitten with the George Inn and hope to turn it into a “community hub”.

“We decided to check it out and absolutely fell in love with the pub and the village itself - we were really surprised,” said Tom, 46.

“We’ve learned a lot about the area. Our plans have been warmly received and we’ve got a great team.

“There’s an absolutely stunning garden; we want to showcase that, and we’ll be focusing on what can be done in there for everyone to enjoy over the coming years."

Tom and Renata, who have been married for 23 years, have a background in hospitality and worked in the sector in central London before settling down in Kent five years ago.

In 2021, the couple decided to take the plunge and took over the Three Mariners, which they plan to continue running.

“It’s a cheesy tagline, but The George Inn will be the turf to the Mariners’ surf; hopefully we’ll have lots of local producers to show off their goods,” Tom said.

“We want it to be a community hub, somewhere where we can put on events.

“If you look at what we do at the Mariners there’s an extensive list of activities such as poetry nights, painting, music, and outdoor cinemas, and it’s our intention to do that same sort of thing here.

“There is a bit of a buzz about it - we have regulars at the Mariners who are from around here, and we’re buzzing too.”

Despite their excitement, both Tom and Renata are under no illusions about the scale of the task given the severe difficulties the hospitality industry has faced.

The Independent reported in April this year that more than 150 pubs had been lost in the first quarter of 2023 - with no sign of slowing down.

But Tom and Renata, who held a soft launch over the weekend, are embracing the challenge.

They intend to be open fully later this month, offering an a la carte menu, lunch and dinner from Wednesday to Saturday, and roasts on Sunday.

“We will be doing that come hell or high water by July 26,” Tom said.

“It’s a really fun time. We’re looking forward to embracing the whole village.”