A historic pub will try to celebrate its relaunch for a second time this evening, after the initial launch night was hindered due to a protester scaling scaffolding.

The Fisherman's Arms, in Lower Stone Street, Maidstone, did reopen on December 21 after it was set to do so two days earlier, punters couldn't get past a cordon as a 49-year-old man threatened to jump off a building.

Martin Tiplady, of Kent Avenue, Shepway, climbed up to the 11th storey of Miller Heights, opposite the pub, in an 11-hour anti-police protest.

Tiplady admitted causing a public nuisance and was jailed for six months.

Landlady Valerie Gillingham said: “I had people messaging me from the cordon asking what was going on, others had come all the way from London for the launch. I couldn’t even tell them if we’d be open, which was really upsetting.

"I imagine we won't have as many people as those who planned to come down on the original launch, which is a shame.

"It will probably just be a lot of friends, family and locals who will come along tonight."

Celebrations will begin tonight at 9pm as live music returns with a performance from Stephen Cornwell, off BBC's The Voice.