Neptunes Hall in Broadstairs has a fresh look and a new landlord.
The Harbour Street boozer has undergone a refurb since long-term tenants Jill and Ken Connell left in October after 17 years in charge.
Experienced London publican, chef and DJ Jonathan Henfrey is now getting ready to take the helm after picking up the keys this week.
Jonathan and wife Flora moved to Margate last year with their three children but have been visiting family members on the isle for some 25 years.
And Jonathan is already familiar with Neptunes Hall after much time spent on the customer side of the bar.
He said: “I had been looking at a different pub and was doing a business plan when I got the call to say Neptunes Hall had become available and could I go in as a tenant.
“I’ve been drinking at the pub for a long time as my sister and brother-in-law moved to Broadstairs more than 20 years ago so I know the pub and what it has been about.
“It has had a massive refurbishment, the garden has been totally redone, the carpets taken up and the floorboards polished and there has been an overhaul of the electrics. There is also a trade kitchen upstairs although we are going to start off with some pop up supper clubs and companies until we decide exactly what we want to do.”
Jonathan was previously been in charge of The Gowlett Arms in Peckham and the brains behind The Crust Conductor – a pizza restaurant based on a double decker bus. The plan after the move to Margate was to take a year off but now Jonathan says he is “ready to go again.”
He said: “We want to make the bar ready, get everything cleaned, the beer is arriving Monday and we want to open by Wednesday – maybe even Tuesday. We will just open the doors and see who comes in but then on the Saturday (December 22) we will have a big party.”
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