A pub in Yalding is set to re-open this month following a £1.3million refurbishment and recruitment of a new management team.

Formerly known as The Anchor, The Boathouse is set on the River Medway with the investment designed to make the most of its riverside location.

Part of the Shepherd Neame portfolio, it will re-open with a glass-fronted restaurant and larger outside decking area, among other improvements.

Kelly Britcher, from Rainham, formerly manager of an Italian restaurant in Bluewater and with 20 years of experience in the hospitality trade has been appointed as general manager, with Hayley Willis, previous assistant manager at the Black Boy in Sevenoaks, as her deputy.

They have recruited 20 new full and part-time staff members and are currently training them ahead of the opening at the end of May.

The manager said: "I previously worked for a restaurant chain which was very prescriptive and didn’t allow much room for creativity, so I have been really impressed by Shepherd Neame’s approach, which is to offer support but allow managers to run their sites individually and make their own mark.

"We cannot wait for it to open."

In addition to the restaurant and decking improvements, an extensive internal and external refurbishment has been undertaken, with new lighting and furniture, and nautically-themed décor throughout.