A pub landlord has unveiled plans to expand amid a wave of closures as costs climb and customers rein in their spending.

Landlord Paul Withers Green, of Stone-in-Oxney near Tenterden, said boosting capacity at his Grade II-listed inn could help offset rising food and energy prices.

Many of Kent’s publicans, who already faced two years of Covid challenges, have been forced to close as the cost-of-living crisis tipped their businesses over the edge.

But Mr Withers Green, who has owned The Ferry Inn since 1983, has laid down his vision to attract and accommodate more customers following a revamp.

The publican said they “cannot miss an opportunity to increase and improve” the restaurant, while the "cramped and unfit" kitchen will also receive a makeover.

If plans progress, customers will have more space at the bar and the 2.5 acres of land will be converted into a beer garden, Mr Withers-Green explained.

“We are one of the more successful pub stories,” he said.

“We have got an excellent team, but with costs the way they are, we need to now make more space available to carry it on.

“We also need the expansion plans to bring the building up to a standard that the Environmental Health requires.

“We still get a decent star rating, but we can’t get five stars because we have an old building.

“Health officers want us to upgrade, and we really want to, too.

“We are limited by the size of the kitchen, we are limited by the quality of the building, it just needs a good facelift without losing the character of the place.”

Mr Withers Green, who runs the pub with partner Maria, has also recently purchased 2.5-acres of land at the back of the pub, with the hope some of it can be set aside to expand the beer garden if change of use plans are approved.

In the summer months when customers spill into outside areas the pub can cater for more people, however during winter limited space inside can make things a struggle.

“We are now at the limit for the amount of people we can sit inside,” Mr Withers Green added.

“On Easter Monday we had to turn away 60 to 70 people because we didn’t have enough space.

“All we want to do is keep up with the pace and get more people in to help cover the extra costs because they have gone through the roof.”

The current dining space, which is 28.5m², would more than double in size to 65m² and become more wheelchair accessible.

The pub’s current beer garden has room for around 130 people.

If plans to expand it are approved, this would rise to 150.

The kitchen would also be enlarged and arranged in a more suitable configuration.

Planning permission to turn the neighbouring cottage and games room into seven bedrooms has already been granted.