A landmark pub which has been closed since March is reopening with a fresh but “traditional” look.

The Prince of Orange in Gravesend will be welcoming customers back this weekend after undergoing a makeover of the garden area and front bar.

Donna Clement, who is originally from Bexleyheath but now lives in the maritime town, took over the running of the pub, sat on the corner of Old Road East and Windmill Street, just three weeks ago.

The 40-year-old said: “We’ve been renovating for three weeks solid, and we’ve put all our own money into it.

“We have tried to do the garden up a little bit because for me it was soulless, it looked like a car park with benches in it.

“There’s a bit of greenery, and we’ve got some nice lighting coming and some black and white striped cushions to go with the tudor style, just to make it a little bit more cosy out there.”

The brewery renovated the restaurant part of the pub last year and the new management team, which also includes husband and wife Tracey and Mark London, have chosen to do up the front bar.

Donna added: “New flooring has been put inside, it’s all been painted and there’s some new pictures coming.

“We’ve tried to keep it as traditional and cosy as possible, we wanted to modernise it a bit but in keeping with the building.”

The refit cost around £20,000, and the pub is also going to host local bands and have a live music night.

The restaurant is going to have a seasonal menu, and will provide food which is locally sourced from farms.

“We want to do things like friendship Fridays for people that are lonely – I’d like them to come in and have a cup of tea or a coffee and a bite to eat.

“We’re also going to offer an OAP day, so give a percentage off of food for OAP’s.

“I want to make it more of a community pub and I would like to hold community events here – just make it a hub for Gravesend.”

The husband and wife team are also looking into having a farmer’s market once a month at the pub, as well as a flower stall and fruit and vegetable stall outside.

“We’re just trying to add things that are going to enhance what it hasn’t got already,” she said.

“There’s also going to be a seafood stall put in in the next few weeks as there isn’t really one in the area – you have to travel to the garden centre.”

The grand reopening will be taking place on Saturday (June 24) from 1pm, and there will be a free barbecue as well as singers and a DJ in the evening.

Despite the cost of living crisis leading to a number of pub closures in the county in recent months, there has been a string of reopenings bucking the trend.

The Grapes pub in the town centre recently flung open its doors to punters once more following a £200,000 revamp and a fresh lick of paint.

And Donna remains optimistic about the Prince of Orange’s own fortunes, adding: “Of course it’s going to be a worry, 100% but we’re just going to try and make it a place that people want to come to, even if it is a choice and a treat.

“We still don’t really know how it’s going to pan out, this year especially because interest rates are still rising.

“But we’re just going to try and do what we can do and hope for the best really.”