A village pub is set to reopen under new management, following the retirement of its much loved landlord.

The Blue Anchor in Platt had been listed for rent by owners Greene King, but outgoing landlord John Bagshaw confirmed new tenants had been found, and the pub would reopen next Friday March 10.

He said he would miss the pub and everyone in the village greatly, but expected new landlady Michelle to improve the Blue Anchor's fortune amidst tough trading conditions.

Mr Bagshaw, said he had been running pubs since 1967, but that the Blue Anchor was the best of them.

"I've run 60 pubs over the years, but I've never had one as long as this," he said. "It's the best pub and the best people.

"The people in this village are the best and they've done so much for me.

"We had a leaving party last Friday and it was a mad house.

"The lady taking over will bring the pub forward to try and beat all this trouble that's going on."

John explained that tough economic conditions were making it difficult for even quality establishments to keep going.

But he said those that managed to survive would hopefully find enough customers from other closed pubs to support them.

Last month Greene King listed the pub for rent, describing it as "quirky" with "a traditional feel around the bar, with a more formal dining area to the side/rear.

"The excellent large garden with decking is a wonderful spot during the warmer weather for families and friends to enjoy the home cooked food or a great pint of beer, and also offers a covered smoking solution during the winter or wet weather."

And when KentOnline's own Secret Drinker visited in 2021, he was also won over by the Blue Anchor's quirky charm.

"Remember how pubs in the 80s used to be jam-packed with a whole mass of little gems, along with even more tat and a few bits and bobs to boot," he wrote. "Well, this one obviously didn’t get the memo and has gone on collecting non-stop for the last 30 years."

"Musically the pub is as traditional as its decorations and, after the long version of Meatloaf’s biggest hit, we were treated to a number from Neil Diamond and a tune from The Boss."

"It’s refreshing to find such a traditional pub hidden away in this village backwater and judging by the look of the place nothing here is going to change anytime soon.

"The same goes for the select group of regulars who line the bar on their stools – their loyalty is testament to the high regard in which they hold the place."

"We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and if the price of the pale ale didn’t quite render me speechless, the capacity of the Blue Anchor’s most committed regular to sink Guinness certainly did."

Well, naturally change comes to everywhere, as John's retirement proves, but new managers will be hoping those regulars and their fabled capacity will remain for a while yet.