One of Medway’s oldest pubs, The Bell in Bredhurst, is closed for major refurbishment.

The Green King brewery has bought the village pub which, according to a commercial property website, was on the market for £1 million.

A brewery spokesman said: “We are pleased to announce we have purchased The Bell and will be turning the pub into one of our popular family-led pubs.

"We have plans to invest substantially in this pub and ensure that it remains a thriving community hub.

“All team members have been offered and accepted roles within our Greene King pubs in the area until The Bell is restored and able to reopen again.”

The planned reopening would be “early in the new year” but the firm could not be precise due to the listed building status.

The hostelry dates back to 1500 and is Grade 11 listed. Extensions to the pub, which stands in more than an acre of land, were added in the 17th and 19th centuries.