When Steve Plews took on the running of the Rose Hotel, he traded serving the City’s bankers for the people of Deal.

Twelve years later as the pub closes its doors, the 53 year-old says it’s undoubtedly the customers he’ll miss the most.

Born and bred in the house where his father Billy still lives in Newman Road, Aylesham, he was persuaded by the owner and lifelong friend from the village Paul Fielden to take on the lease of the High Street boozer.

And because of the enduring friendships he’s since made in the town, it’s one of the most rewarding things he ever did.

At the time Mr Plews was managing the Arbitrager in the City of London’s Throgmorton Street.

He said: “We had been talking about it for years and he had made the decision to retire in France so I came down, we had a chat and that was me in here 12 years ago. The best way to describe the difference is – it’s a rat race in the City.

“It’s so much more relaxed and chilled here, but I probably do about 30 or 40 hours a week more because in London I never worked weekends and bank holidays because the bankers aren’t there then.”

Life as a High Street landlord is “pretty much 24/7,” he says because of the responsibility. The Rose was also a B&B with seven rooms above, one of which he lived in.

In a world where the existence of traditional pubs is dwindling, the need to take and make more cash has led to a more hands-on approach and Mr Plews pulled many more pints behind the bar of the Rose than he did in his former pub.

And with the changing appetites of society, with younger drinkers preferring bars and restaurants, he is supportive of the vision of the new owners.

They bought the pub in February after Mr Fielden died suddenly in August 2014 and his widow Josie decided to sell up. He said: “It’s the last of the British boozers that doesn’t do food in the town centre apart from the Forester. We’ve survived on wet sales alone which was something to be proud of. It’s a proper drinker’s pub. That’s the good thing about the new owners, they’re going to spend a lot of money on it and increase the offer for the customers.

“The best thing about being landlord of the Rose, and the thing I’ll miss the most is the customers. I’ll miss the regulars dreadfully. I’ll be moving in with my ‘baby brother’ my twin, Greg. This is me moving back to Aylesham for the first time in 30 years.”

Mr Plews has always been proud to hail from the Snowdown mining village where, in the 1980s, he played for Snowdown Colliery Rugby Football Club and the Colts football team.

He is a story of fives – he was one of five sons, he has five children of his own and five grandchildren who he is looking forward to spending more time with.

While he does that he is masterminding his next project which remains tightly under wraps.