A popular pub has unveiled its revamped garden area following a £60,000 makeover, as the new landlord continues to make the hostelry more family friendly.

The Cricketers in Rainham has new decking, a covered outside seating area and private booths with TVs.

The garden has been adorned with artificial flower garlands, creating an Instagram-worthy backdrop, and there are new patio heaters and outdoor lighting so customers can make the most of the outdoor areas all year round.

Pub boss Grant Sanders took over with his wife Melissa seven months ago and they have been making lots of changes.

He said: "The Cricketers had a bit of an unsavoury reputation before. We took over seven months ago and have been bringing the pub back into the community.

"We have made great progress so far. Financially we are a lot stronger and that has given us the flexibility to invest in the outside areas.

"The next step will be to invest more in the inside of the pub."

The 40-year-old dad has moved into the pub with Melissa and their two young sons, Dylan, 10, and Albert, 17 months.

He added: "We want to create somewhere where mums and dads can come with their children.

"We don't have a DJ at the weekends like the pub used to but we do have live bands here on Friday and Saturday nights."

In 2018 Greene King, which operates the pub, made changes to the licence following a series of incidents which led to Kent Police and Medway Council's licensing panel stepping in.

Grant has previously worked in retail - managing Tesco Extra stores across Kent - but decided to follow in the footsteps of his mum and dad who have run pubs in the past.

He said: "My wife and I both had publican backgrounds and wanted to go into the publican business. It suits our personalities, we are both outgoing people and we have always been heavily involved in the community

"The feedback since we took over has been great. People have said The Cricketers is alive again, which is really heart-warming, It makes us want to do more."

The pub is holding an Easter Fun Day on Monday, April 18, with visits from the Easter Bunny, a children's entertainer and Spiderman, as well as a raffle in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

To find out more about the event, click here.