The landlord of an historic military pub dating back centuries is calling time on New Year's Eve.

The King George V in Brompton, one of the oldest hostelries in Medway, is closing for essential improvements to be carried out leaving its future as a licensed premises uncertain.

Licensee John Brice, who has been behind the bar of the "KG5" with wife Diane for 20 years, will not be returning to the helm but hopes it will remain a pub.

He is blaming a raft of reasons for a drop in business, notably the hike in beer prices competing with cheap booze from supermarkets, a change in drinking habits since lockdown and high business rates.

He is using the beginning of the new year, a traditionally quiet time in the industry, to get works done to comply with fire regulations.

Mr Brice said: "The works necessary now involve the cellar and the two floors above the bar area so that disruption to customers would be unacceptable.

"Our letting rooms are an important part of the pub income, so it is vital we get them back in use as soon as we can.

"It is also a tough time for the pub industry with the increasing costs of power, food, staff and drinks – some of them big rises.

"Beer prices have gone up twice since we last passed them on to customers. In the New Year most will cost us an extra 15% more, so we will take time to see how the marketplace settles.

"With those beer increases, it will mean a pint costing an extra £1 or more just to stand still.

"With the unfair level of business rates for small businesses and competition for cheap booze in supermarkets, it is a difficult time for pubs.

"During Covid, people got into the habit of drinking at home and since life has got back to normal, trade has not returned to former levels."

The pub in Prospect Row closed for a year-long major upgrade after a dispute with a former tenant.

Mr Brice, the chairman of Medway Licensed Victuallers and a real ale connoisseur, spent more than £100,000 on a makeover ensuring the listed premises retained its historic features and refurbishing four en-suite bedrooms.

Dating back to 1690, it was frequented by Royal Navy personnel from the nearby Chatham Dockyard as well as soldiers from Brompton Barracks.

The village outside Chatham town centre was known to Lord Nelson and General Kitchener.

Memorabilia including berets caps, badges and emblems adorn the walls along with pictures of the solider's seaside home town in Devon.

The couple retired after running the pub for 10 years in 2014, saying they wanted to put their feet up and “sit at the other side of the bar”.

But they returned at the helm to get the pub, which is popular with locals, back up-and-running.

At the reopening in October 2021, Mr Brice, said: "It’s been a long and difficult journey, but after seeing the end results it’s all been worthwhile.

“I used this pub as a drinker 40 years ago and it has a special place for me.

“I couldn’t just sit here and watch it die. It’s one of the oldest pubs in Medway and is a landmark to naval history serving many characters over the years from both the Royal Navy and Army.

“The pub basically looks like it always did. But everything has been upgraded, repainted, re-upholstered, re-carpeted and given a totally fresh appearance.”

He re-introduced The Monday Club, rum club, whisky society, monthly walks, live acoustic sessions, piano evenings, meat raffle and silent quizzes.

Mr Brice, who also owns the Frog and Toad in Gillingham, organises the Medway Beer Festival at the Stanley Ballroom in Chatham which has gone from strength to strength over the years.

He had a long career as a broadcaster and journalist with the BBC before going into the licensing trade.

He is currently awaiting a back operation which is likely to take him out of action for months.