A beloved village pub has shut its doors less than two years after reopening.

Metal window and door guards have been put up at The Honest Miller in Brook, near Ashford, after the pub shut its doors last Friday.

The inn only reopened under new management in August 2018, featuring a new menu serving homemade food.

But several letters from the name on the wall have now gone missing and villagers have expressed their sadness at its closure.

Brook resident Don Leavey was a regular at the pub.

"It's seemed like for the last three or four years they've been changing management constantly," he said.

"People only seem to last between six months and a year - it's an unbelievable turnover and not in a good way.

"I've been going there for 25 years now, it's held so many great memories.

"We've had birthdays there, celebrated christenings, and we've had lunches with the local cricket club there for decades.

"Last time it closed, they had a security guard there.

"I don't know what the difference is with the metal plates this time but let's hope it's just to save money on security until different management is found."

Mr Leavey says the pub, which is owned by Admiral Taverns, could be taken over by villagers if the opportunity arose.

He said: "If they were willing to sell, I know for a fact there are several villagers, myself included and a few on the parish council, who would be willing to buy it as as consortium.

"There's a pub in Stowting called The Tiger, which was bought by the villagers there and they've made a real success out of it."

A spokesman for Admiral Taverns say the firm is assessing its options.

He said: “We are focused on working closely with our licensees to support them to run sustainable pub businesses.

"We are therefore currently looking at all options for the future of this site.”

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