A great-grandmother is set to reopen a former pub as a 1950s-themed bar.

The old Foresters Arms in Ramsgate was set to be made into housing after its former owner gained planning permission to develop the site last year.

But Linda Goldsmith, 68, saw potential in the Boundary Road pub and snapped it up.

She is now set to reopen it as Fury’s Bar at midday on Friday, following a £200,000 refurbishment.

Mrs Goldsmith said: “It’s been completely gutted, and started again. So many people have come in and had a look and just said ‘awesome, what a difference, I can’t believe how much it’s changed’.”

The bar is decorated with a ‘50s theme throughout, including a vintage jukebox and furniture from the era.

On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays meanwhile, staff will dress up in 1950s attire.

The pub’s former owner gained permission to turn it into two homes last year. He argued competition from other nearby pubs - including the huge Wetherspoon at the town’s marina - would make it “extremely unlikely” anyone would take it on to trade as a pub, as it would be economically unviable.

He blamed this on a range of factors such as increasing cost burdens and the introduction of the indoor smoking ban in 2007.

“My children think I was mad to take it on,” said Mrs Goldsmith.

But the capable great-grandmother feels confident.

She has experience of running a business, having taken on Newlyn Residential Home in Ramsgate in the early ‘90s, before going on to run it for 23 years.

“They were closing that down and they were forced to sell it, and I saw potential in that,” she said.

And she maintains that there is plenty of potential in the old Foresters Arms site.

“I used to drink in the Foresters way back, and it was always busy when I popped in,” she said.

“It will be a free house so we’re not tied to a [brewery or brand] - so our prices can go up and down.

“We can start low and if we’re not making a little profit, we can go higher.”

Fury’s Bar is wheelchair-friendly, with a dedicated disabled bathroom.

“We’ve also lowered the ceilings and put LED lighting in now,” said Mrs Goldsmith.

“We’re going to have a beer garden at the back.

“It will be done for the summer.”

Mrs Goldsmith says that while the bar will be open for drinks initially, it will eventually serve food too.

The bar has employed seven members of staff.

While Mrs Goldsmith does not plan to be behind the bar herself, and instead intends to step back and spend time chatting with customers.