Shepherd Neame is to invest £100,000 in refurbishing a hotel which has stood for nearly 200 years.

The Royal Hotel in Sheerness was built in 1825 by Sir Edward Banks, who also designed Sheppey Dockyard and Southwark and Waterloo Bridges.

As well as the renovation, Shepherd Neame are looking for a new licensee to run the business, which has 13 letting rooms and a function room.

Set to begin next year, the works will give the hotel and pub in Broadway contemporary decor, highlighting traditional features such as its bar counter and back bar.

A new glass entrance lobby will be created as well as new toilet facilities with space for disabled customers.

It is the latest in a series of renovations announced by Shepherd Neame.

In 2007 it acquired the Lady Hamilton in Queenbroough and relaunched it as the Aviator after a £350,000 redevelopment.

Tenanted operations manager Greg Wallis said: “We would be delighted to receive applications from ambitious people with a flair for hospitality who can have some input into the refurbishment plans.

“This is a significant investment in the Sheerness economy and a great opportunity to run a business in one of the town’s most high-profile, iconic buildings.

“This refurbishment, which we plan to carry out in the new year, will modernise the ground floor to create a nice, clean, comfortable environment for customers while remaining sympathetic to the building’s history and character.”

For information on becoming a tenant, visit www.shepherdneame.co.uk/run-tenancy.