A popular landlady has pulled her last pint at the only pub in the village.

Jo Harris had been welcoming punters into the Queens Head, Mereworth, for nearly three years, but now she has left and locked the doors for the last time.

Mrs Harris had turned fortunes around at the Butchers Lane pub, attracting people with events including live music, themed nights and home-cooked Sunday roasts.

Locals packed the pub out to raise a glass for the family’s final evening on Saturday, September 26, before it closed the next day.

Mrs Harris said: “We had really good fun running it, and enjoyed being able to be a part of local events, especially the village fete.

“The local people who supported it were amazing, I feel more people need to support their locals or they will end up losing them.”

The Grade II listed building has served as a pub for centuries. Another pub, The Torrington Arms in The Street, closed in 1996.

Pauline Bell, a Butchers Lane resident and regular customer, said: “When the doors shut for the last time it was a very sad day for the village.

“I felt that another part of village life had died, we’ve already lost a pub in The Street, two village shops and a post office.

“The pub was the village hub where friends would meet to catch up while having a beer and a laugh, too.

“On a personal note I would like to say thanks to Jo for everything, from everyone at the Queens Head.”

Another local, Tony ‘Taf’ Williams, said: “Now that it’s closed there’s nothing left in the village for the locals to enjoy – it feels like it has killed the village spirit.”

A gastropub, the Moody Mare, formerly The Beeches, on Seven Mile Lane is now the only pub near Mereworth village, and The Swan on the Green, in West Peckham, is in a neighbouring village.

The Queens Head is now for sale, freehold with vacant possession with Sidney Phillips at £385,000.