A seaside pub and restaurant has reopened following a £200,000 refurbishment.

The Coastguard in St Margaret’s Bay, near Dover, which dates back more than 300 years, is Britain’s nearest pub to France and was officially taken over by Shepherd Neame in January.

Its new look is inspired by its maritime heritage, with a red and white lighthouse-style pub fascia and signwriting, complete with boat-shaped planters and lifebuoys as decoration.

The interior of the pub has also been completely refurbished and repainted in contemporary colours with a new fireplace installed.

The pub was reopened on Friday by licensees Tom and Karensa Miller, who have run the Zetland Arms at nearby Kingsdown since 2013.

The pair, who won Wine Pub of the Year at the last Shepherd Neame Pub Awards, decided to expand their business by taking on The Coastguard and have hired two full-time and three part-time staff.

Mrs Miller said: “When we saw The Coastguard was available, it seemed like too good an opportunity to miss.

“It is in a fantastic location and we are delighted with the results of the refurbishment

“We were lucky enough to open on a sunny weekend, so we have already welcomed a huge number of customers, which is fantastic.”

Shepherd Neame’s chief executive Jonathan Neame said: “The Coastguard is in a spectacular seaside location, and we are confident that following our investment in the site, it will prove a popular destination for residents and visitors to the area.”