A village pub has reopened after an £80,000 refurbishment.

Licensee Glenn Hollingworth put his own funds into the revamp of the Gate Inn in Boyden Gate, near Herne Bay, which he has run for the past four years.

He jointly funded the work with brewers Shepherd Neame, which started at the beginning of June.

It included the creation of a patio terrace in the garden, and a new bar area built out of recycled hop poles, raised flowerbeds at the front of the pub and a secure bike park for cyclists.

Inside, an intimate new booth area was put in, and the pub was completely redecorated while the kitchen was extended.

Mr Hollingworth, 34, who grew up on Sheppey, trained as a chef at Canterbury College before going on to work for Gary Rhodes at Dolphin Square in London. He then worked in London and Middlesex.

When he moved back home to Kent, he looked for a pub in the county to run and discovered the Gate Inn.

He said: “When I walked into the pub, it felt like I was coming home.

“It is a beautiful traditional pub in a picturesque village. I love it here, and now the refurbishment project is completed, it is better than ever.”