Village pubs across the country are closing, often with the landlords claiming they are no longer economically viable.

But that isn't necessarily the case - as residents in Trottiscliffe have proven.

They have shown that while it is certainly easier to make a quick bob or two by re-developing the building for housing, with care and attention, the village pub can not only survive, but also flourish.

Back in September 2017, Enterprise Inns, the owners of The Plough in Taylors Lane, Trottiscliffe, sold the site to a property developer.

But residents, upset at the prospect of losing the hostelry that had graced their village for 200 years, persuaded Tonbridge and Malling council to declare the 500-year-old building a community asset - which gave villagers the legal right to attempt a rescue.

Altogether 119 villagers took shares in Trottiscliffe Community Group Ltd and raised enough money to meet the asking price of £450,000 to re-purchase the pub and to carry out an extensive refurbishment that included new floors, new electrics, new furniture, a new paint job and a new car park.

The Plough re-opened on July 5.

Ian Mills, of Pinesfield Lane, was one of the instigators of the project. He said: "The bar is proving very popular.

"The restaurant is doing well too and although due to Covid we can't completely fill it, we are as full as we can be most nights."

He said: "Our outdoor dining is especially popular - and we frequently get horse-riders in the car park as we offer complimentary hay!

The villagers are not running the pub themselves, but have rather brought in professionals in the form of the Yates family as tenants, who have three generations of experience in the pub and restaurant trade. Son Alex, 25, is the chef, while his father David and grandmother Jane run the show.

Mr Mills said: "Business is good and both we and the Yates family are happy with how things are going."

The revitalisation of The Plough is even more remarkable in that Trottiscliffe does have another pub in the village - The George, which attracts clientele from a wide area.

Mr Mills said: "We're lucky to have two pubs.

"The George is a destination pub, people come from miles away to enjoy the food and the atmosphere.

"But The Plough is very much our local."

But the Trottiscliffe Community Group is not sitting back on its laurels. Now they are eyeing up two garages in the pub grounds.

Mr Mills said: "We have plans to turn them into a community shop - and have submitted a planning application to the council.

"There is no shop in Trottiscliffe, so naturally everyone is very excited about the idea."

Read more: All the latest news from Malling

Read more: All the latest news from Tonbridge

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