A town centre pub is set to reopen with new owners following a £200,000 revamp.

The Grapes, in Gravesend, closed its doors early last year and was auctioned off by brewery Shepherd Neame.

It was snapped up only months later by businessman Steve Basi, who also owns The Bas Bar in Strood, and who has spent a year revamping the entire public house.

He told KentOnline: “It is what is missing in Gravesend. It has been a long time in the making.

“We want to bring it back in to the community and create a place where people feel safe.”

Alongside manager Esther Larney, the pair are hoping to bring something different to town that has an upmarket and premium feel similar to what punters would find in London.

She said: “It is really nice to bring it back to being a freehold pub.

“It was at a point, it was a little neglected. It needed a bit of love and care and it was not getting it.

“It is going to be the long awaited reopening. It is exciting.

“It is going to be lovely, we are spending a lot of money to get it back to where it should be.”

The public house is undergoing a £200,000 refurbishment to bring it back to life including installing a bespoke bar, a garden wall ceiling, outdoor seating area and fresh coats of paint.

It will also introduce food and will serve premium products and cocktails.

Although the pub, on the corner of Milton Road, will become part of The Bas Bar company, it will still be known as The Grapes.

“We could absolutely not change the name,” Esther, who was the former assistant manager at the branch in Strood, added.

“The Grapes is the Grapes. It is a landmark of Gravesend.”

They are hoping to open by the end of the month, although a date is yet to be set.