A popular couple returning to run a much-loved pub have revealed their plans to give it a new lease of life.

Shelley and Nick Page are back from retirement to take on the Toad Rock Retreat in Upper Street, Rusthall, Tunbridge Wells, after it closed at the beginning of March.

The Pages, who ran the pub from 2015 until 2021, have worked in the hospitality industry for more than 20 years and previously managed the Dovecott Inn in Capel for 11 years.

They had to restore the Dovecott after it had been flooded with “water up to its middle”.

Now, with the help of the community and pub owner Stonegate, they are renovating the Toad Rock Retreat and are looking forward to welcoming people back.

Chef Shelley, 58, said: “The kitchen is ready for food again and we will be opening and being a pub again by doing what we do best.

“We will be serving good food, good drinks, hospitality and lots of laughs and lots of families from the community hopefully.”

As part of the renovation process Shelley says the bar and all tables have been sanded, the chairs re-upholstered, and everywhere will be “scrubbed within an inch of its life”.

Ahead of the opening later this month a post was shared on Facebook which announced the return of the popular pair, which inspired a thread of willing volunteers offering their time to help.

One woman commented “The Toad must go on!” while others said “Fantastic news! We’ll be there with our rubber gloves”.

The distinctive pub is named after the nearby Toad Rocks, also known as Denny Bottom Rocks, whereby a large rock is said to look like a giant sitting toad.

On Saturday, April 6, volunteers showed up to do their bit to get the place ready.

Shelley said: “The response has been amazing. There’s an awful lot of people coming to help spruce up their local.”

One of the volunteers, regular customer Marc “Barney” Bennett, has lived in the area most of his life and has played a big role in getting the pub ready by sanding, painting, decorating and wallpapering.

He says he is on hand to help with “whatever is needed” to get it open.

The 48-year-old has been going to the Toad Rock Retreat for more than 30 years and says it is a “big part of most of our lives round here”.

“We all like Nick and Shelley, they were brilliant when they were here. They’re probably the best landlord and landlady since the ‘90s so it’s very good to have them back,” he added.

Nick, who has lived in Tunbridge Wells his whole life, will take care of the cellar, cleaning and gardening, but the husband-and-wife say it is a team effort, along with the help of their dog Fendi.

The 66-year-old said: “It will be a nice and warm pub with the fire going, kept clean and tidy.”

Shelley, who has a passion for interior design, will be bringing back a familiar design from her past time at the pub - a flamingo wall.

The pub will be offering pub classics, Sunday roasts and home-cooking which Shelley calls “proper pub-grub food”.

Shelley, who comes from a family of publicans in Manchester, worked in the kitchen with her mother from the age of 14.

She met Nick on the first night after moving to Kent, aged 20.

The pair are hoping to open for the weekend of April 20, however, the exact date is yet to be confirmed.

Shelley said: “It’s a bit devastating for the local community not to have a local pub and that’s what it’s always been.

“I’m happy to stay here as long as the business is a business. I’m happy to be here with everybody.

“I’m looking to spend some time here and get it all sorted and make it good again for the locals and for Nick, Fendi and I.”

A Stonegate spokesman said: “The Toad Rock Retreat is closed for a brief period while the publican, a familiar face in the local community, prepares to reopen in mid-April.

“The new publican looks forward to welcoming back locals to the much-loved pub in just a few weeks time.”