A rundown pub saved from being turned into housing has been transformed in just 56 days.

The Captain Howey in New Romney closed in September, sparking fears it could be snapped up by developers.

But the owner of the Littlestone Hotel next door bought the venue with the hope of turning it into a space for the community.

And after 56 days of ripping up floorboards, decorating and renovating, the business has reopened as a bar and restaurant.

Owner Dino Johnson says: “People in the neighbourhood tell me it was neglected and run down before.

“But we have had really good feedback and the energy of the community has brought it back to life again.

“It shows with the right ingredients you can revive a pub.

“It only took 56 days to renovate but in that time we haven't stopped. We've had people working on the floor, on the rooms upstairs and the whole downstairs.

“The basic jobs cost just over £50,000 but the overall will be more if you include the inside.”

Amongst the renovations, a new bar has been put in, improvements have been made to the garden and TVs have been installed with a variety of Sky channels.

The bar opened earlier this month and the restaurant is set to follow on January 8, as finishing touches are made to the kitchen and dining areas.

Dino took over the Littlestone Hotel in 2003, which has 16 self-contained rooms, and he and his staff will now look after Captain Howey’s nine hotel rooms.

The bar and restaurant will be managed Kevin Saunders and Bruce McDonald, who run a business that caters for golf course clubhouses.

Mr Saunders, who has worked in hospitality for 15 years, says the pair had their hands full when they arrived at the Littlestone Road venue.

He explains: “We were hoping to just give it a lick of paint but the more we got stuck in the more we realised we had to start again.

“We ripped all the floor out, we pulled the lights out, ripped the bar and cellar out and replaced everything.

“We want the Howey to have a relaxed pleasant vibe, and we want it to be like a lounge instead of a pub.

“We have always wanted to get hold of our own golf course club facility but they are very expensive.

“So when Dino approached us about taking on the pub, we decided it was a great opportunity and we can hopefully grow from there.”

When the kitchen opens, the restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner every day from 8am.

It will also offer roast dinners on a Sunday.