A village centre gastro pub is among seven which have been bought by brewer Shepherd Neame.

The Farm House in West Malling, formerly known as the Bear, has been acquired by the Faversham-based pub company from Enterprise Inns.

The takeover is part of 13 pubs being taken over by the beer maker worth £13.4 million, announced earlier this month.

The other pubs bought from Enterprise Inns include the Greyhound in Keston, near Orpington, and five other pubs in West Sussex and Surrey.

All the pubs will continue to operate under their current lease.

Over the last fortnight, representatives from Shepherd Neame have met with the licensees to discuss transitional arrangements and future investment plans.

The completion of the sale takes the brewer’s total number of pubs to 335.