Brewery bosses are confident a village pub will reopen soon after the previous licensee pulled out.

The Bull Inn in Bethersden, between Ashford and Tenterden, has been closed since the start of March, leaving villagers concerned for its future.

But Shepherd Neame says it is planning to reopen the site, which sits in a prime position in Bull Lane overlooking the A28.

Director of tenanted pub operations, Greg Wallis, said: “We can confirm we are currently recruiting a new licensee to take over The Bull at Bethersden, which has been closed since the start of March.

“It is a characterful rural village pub with great potential and we are confident that the business will reopen shortly.”

Elsewhere in the village, The George in The Street could reopen by the summer after residents raised more than £300,000 to buy it.

Fearing the historic building could be demolished, villagers came together to form The George Community, with the aim of raising enough money to reopen the pub as a community asset.

Efforts were aided by a government boon, which pledged to match any money raised up to £250,000 – meaning the £300,000 raised would result in £550,000 in total.