The "broken-hearted" partner of a landlord shot dead in his pub has told of her grief after the venue re-opened.

Milena Goff found partner Joe Daniels, 58, unresponsive inside his Red Cow pub in Foord Road, Folkestone, just before 11.30am on November 22 last year.

Police said he suffered an injury consistent with a gunshot after he was pronounced dead at the scene, where a firearm was also discovered.

Ms Goff said: “We are all broken-hearted. I will never be able to erase the image of finding Joe murdered.

“I will never forget Joe’s humour, he was so funny, he would talk to anyone, and knowing that he would not want me feeling sad is sometimes all that keeps me going – he would want me smiling.

“We had some brilliant times at the Red Cow, it was like an extended family, I’m absolutely devastated.

“I understand the pub needs to make money, it’s a business but it’s very raw, it feels too early for the pub to reopen, it has added to the grief.”

Eight months after the Liverpudlian’s death, new landlords Craft Union Pub Company opened the Red Cow’s doors for business.

The decor has been revamped inside with new flooring and brighter colours.

The outside has been brushed up with grey and black paint and a new sign has been installed on the front.

A spokesman for Craft Union said: “We are delighted to be taking over the Red Cow, Folkestone which opened on June 29.

“We believe the British pub plays a vital role in the lives of its customers and our philosophy at Craft Union is to put brilliant pubs back at the heart of local communities.

“We are committed to nurturing this by investing in the pub by ensuring that we retain the tradition and the heritage alongside improving the quality of the community offer.

“As such, we have invested in the garden area which will very much remain available to the public when we re-open.”

Ms Goff said walking past the pub is a major trigger for grief and the thought of that Mr Daniels's killer is at large "makes her feel ill".

“Unfortunately someone murdered my husband and someone is accountable.

“Knowing someone is still at large makes me feel ill.

“I want to appeal to people to make sure they don’t forget what happened.

“It needs to be kept in people's memories. Someone out there knows something about what happened that day.

“I just want someone to come forward and at least myself and Joe’s family can have some form of closure.”

A police murder probe is ongoing amid appeals for dashcam footage and witnesses.

Detectives arrested a 23-year-old man from Canterbury earlier this year and he was released pending further inquiries.

A police spokeswoman said the force had no further updates: “On Wednesday, January 31, a 23-year-old man from Canterbury was arrested in connection with the incident and remains under investigation.At this stage no further arrests have been made, however inquiries remain ongoing."

Witnesses or anyone with information that has not yet been in touch can call the appeal line on 01303 289600, quoting reference 22-0453.