A Turkish couple have taken over the former Halfway House pub at halfway, Sheppey, and are planning to turn it into a £1 million five-star restaurant.

Mehmet and Elvin Suzgun, who run a Costcutter shop in Eastchurch, were presented with a token key to the door by out-going landlady Trudie Gannon on Friday.

Trudie had run the pub by the traffic lights at the junction with Queenborough Road and Halfway Road with her late husband PJ for 42 years but called time for good on September 23.

The new owners are to rename it Mem’s Mezze bar and restaurant and plan to turn it into a family-friendly Turkish restaurant complete with creche.

Elvin, a mum of two, said: “We want to bring a bit of life to the Island. Sometimes it can feel like a ghost town.”

Both her husband and father are good cooks but they plan to bring in other chefs and believe the project will create at least 25 jobs.

Mehmet said: “We want this to be a perfect five-star restaurant with comfortable surroundings but also affordable. We want people to feel they can dine here once or twice a week rather than just once a year for a special occasion.

“We want families to feel they are welcome and will be creating a children’s play area, perhaps a creche, where youngsters can play in safety while their parents eat.”

The couple met in London and moved to the Island 14 years ago. They also operate a property business.

Elvin joked: “I bought this for Mehmet as a 40th birthday present.”

Trudie, a grandmother-of-four, said: “I did the same for my husband on our wedding anniversary!”

She added: “This has been more than a pub for me, it’s been a way of life. I’d like to thank all our friends and customers.”

The Suzguns, who hope to open by Valentine’s Day next year, are planning to spend up to £200,000 gutting the inside and revamping the building but say the total bill is likely to come to £1 million.