New landlords have high hopes a town pub will be brought back to life with a £185,000 investment.

David Carroll and partner Emma Smith have already spruced up The Angel in Rainham with a lick of paint, sofas, a fireplace and introduced food for the first time in its history.

But the major cash injection to completely transform the boozer is expected at the end of March by pub company Admiral Taverns.

It will be shut for up to four weeks for the refurbishment which will see the entire place gutted and re-fitted.

David, 37, said: "We want to give it some life again. It looked so tired, it did not feel welcoming. We want it to feel comfortable and we want families coming in.

"We want to be a home away from home. A public house is just that, a place for people to feel safe and comfortable.

"We are people people. We love chatting and hearing stories.

"Our main focus is to deliver quality, to be the best. We want to be that little step above anyone else.

"Pubs have changed so much, we want to give it a refresh but keep that personal touch you do not find as much any more."

Emma, 33, added: "This place just needed some investment. We like a big project. We look at places and see what can be done and look past what is already there.

"We like to see place's potential. It is about bringing it back to life. We personally prefer and find people prefer to go into a pub and the people behind the bar know your name and smile.

"There is not many of them around any more. It is what I want to give people."

The couple – who are originally from Essex – ran The Command House in Chatham between 2019 and 2020 before moving to Suffolk where they had another two pubs.

They have now moved back to Kent and are living in Rainham.

"To run a pub, it is got to be your life," David added. "If you do not live on site, you can not give it you whole attention."

The pair took over The Angel, on the corner of Station Road and Lower Rainham Road, in December after former landlord Stuart Hart came to the end of his tenancy.

They want it to be a pub for everyone in the community, including families, and hope to host events such as quizzes, music nights and prosecco brunches.

The Eagle in Maidstone recently reopened after a £100,000 investment for Admiral Taverns.

It is run by husband and wife duo Gary and Claire Banfield who also wanted to give their business a fresh look and feel.