An American-style diner specialising in homemade burgers and milkshakes is set to open in a former pub which has stood empty for more than two years.

Work is underway to convert the Livingstone Arms in Gillingham into McDoody’s which claims it will be the “best burger and dessert place in town”.

More than 300 people responded to a job advert on the diner’s Facebook page for just 10 vacancies.

The post said they were looking for former McDonalds, KFC or Burger King employees as well as “chefs who can make different burgers, staff who have experience in grilling and frying, desert making such as milkshakes and sundaes”.

The former pub, which was popular with football fans, was sold in 2015 to Konuralp Investments Ltd, based in Hackney, as a freehold business.

The company’s plans to convert the venue into a restaurant with a two-bed flat on the ground floor and four one-bed flats on the first floor, were approved by Medway Council last month.

The Livingstone Arms closed down at the end of the 2012-13 season and briefly reopened for a short period in 2014, but had been empty since.

It was boarded up due to vandalism and break-in attempts.