A traditional back street boozer has been given a £280,000 makeover to include lavish new fixtures and fittings, a revamped historic bar and an ornamental willow tree.

The Rising Sun in Rochester has welcomed back regulars and new customers after it reopened on Wednesday after a major refit and expansion.

The pub in King Street, just a couple of minutes from the busy town centre, is famed for its live music and quiz nights.

So back by popular demand will be the Wednesday night open mic sessions and weekly pool competitions and quiz night with cheese board.

New owner Billy Dutton hopes to help attract folk music fans who would frequent the now closed Good Intent pub, which was a short walk away.

He has enlisted the help of its former landlady Karen Woebley for the launch of the new-look hostelry.

Billy, 31, who grew up in Medway and has worked in the licensing trade both here and in London, said: “We hope to fill the gap left by the Good Intent.

“We have 11 bands lined up for the Sweeps Festival and we hope to encourage the Morris dancers who take part to come in for a drink.”

Billy took over the Admirals brewery tenancy last July after helping out with the refit and relaunch of the Queen Charlotte in the high street.

He said :”We wanted to maintain its historic, Victoriany look. We have focused the on the old bar making it look really pretty and framing it as a feature.

“We have knocked down a wall and gone into the largely disused kitchen so we have room for an extra 20 seating.”

The enclosed garden has now been paved over and there is an outdoor bar for drinking alfresco.

Billy, who studied events management at college and worked in pubs in London, said: “ After Covid, I decided I wanted to be closer to home and put down roots.

“I took on this pub just to see and have decided to give it a go.

“With my training, every day is an event.

“We can’t compete with the high street for food. It will be more like a food offering with food sharing dishes.

“There’s nothing similar in the high street. Many of the staff who work there come here to relax.

Billy, who has been closely involved in the re-design said: “I would describe it as quirky, Victoriany and welcoming.The decor is bright, peacocky colours.

“At the end of the day, it’s the guests that make a pub and not the building.”