A pub which has been closed for a year and a half after being badly hit by the Christmas floods of 2013 has reopened.

Drakes, off Medway Street in Maidstone, was one of the worst-hit businesses during the flooding, which left it several feet deep in flood water when the River Medway burst its banks on Christmas Eve that year.

Managers had hoped to reopen sooner, but there had been hold-ups with insurance.

But drinkers were able to return for a beverage on Friday night, after the interior refit was completed.

The old half-timbered building, which dates back to the 17th century, had a wooden floor and beams throughout, plus a wooden bar.

Work to finish the exterior, which still has scaffolding up, could take another six months.

Managing director of Pleisure Pubs, Nick Griffin, said: "We had massive issues with insurance but we have finally managed to sort that out and have reopened. It could be at least another six months before the outside is finished."

He said the opening had gone well, despite the current look of the exterior.

The area around the pub was severely hit by the floodwaters which left the area around the bridge system, Fairmeadow, Lockmeadow and Hart Street under water for several days.