A VILLAGE pub on the brink of closure has been given a French makeover and a new lease of life.

Karen and Philippe Debax-Latour took over The Harrow last year after a long campaign by locals to keep a pub in Ulcombe.

After investing their savings and a hefty bank loan in creating a piece of France in a corner of an English field, the 15th century pub was re-launched by Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, leader of Kent County Council.

Representatives of Ulcombe parish council and the save the village pub campaign joined the celebration.

Cllr Bruce-Lockhart paid tribute to Karen and Philippe, saying what a good job they had done in transforming the pub.

One of the first things Philippe did after taking over The Harrow was create a playing area for petanque.

Chef Philippe, who was born in Brittany, makes a cross-Channel trip at least once a week to buy the best produce and French wine. But he also obtains most of his fresh vegetables from Kentish growers.

"It is a risk but we're confident it will do well," said Karen, who has a senior day job with BT's hi-tech eLocations division.

The couple married in 1994. They met at a ski resort after Karen completed her MBA at the University of Warwick.

"I'm very confident it's going to be a winner because there aren't many places that offer good French food at a reasonable price. It's the best of two worlds - French cuisine and English pub, English atmosphere."