A former soldier has traded the battlegrounds of Afghanistan for life as pub landlord in Deal.

Lee Johnston, 37, and his partner Lara Wilde, 29, have taken over the reins at the Telegraph in Hamilton Road and will have equal roles in its running.

After serving in Northern Ireland and Iraq and having conducted two tours in Afghanistan, Lee, who is originally from London, decided to return to Lara’s home town so they could begin their post-forces life together.

Lee said: “I was coming up to 12 years in the Army and I’d been offered the chance of promotion to Sergeant, but it would have meant relocating, which we didn’t want to do.

“Lara had told me about Deal and what a nice place it was and how the standard of living was good, and it sounded great.”

The couple moved to Deal a few months ago, but had not initially planned to take over a pub.

Lee said: “We’d been drinking at the Telegraph and it was immediately a very friendly place and we felt at home there, and then we found out the tenancy was coming up so we jumped at the chance.”

Lee joined the Royal Green Jackets in 2004, which later became The Rifles under Army reorganisation.

He saw active service in Iraq, where his platoon was attached to the SAS, and in the Taliban hotspots of Sangin and Nad-e Ali in Afghanistan.

One of his Afghanistan tours was conducted as battlefield casualty replacement, for which he volunteered and which involves taking the place of a soldier who has been seriously injured or killed.

With typical military modesty Lee reckons pub life is in some ways just as hard, but equally rewarding. He said: “It’s a good solid, job, but it is tough – as tough as the Army in terms of man hours and lack of sleep – but the daily routine has to be as strict as Army life.

“We’re both really enjoying it. It’s a great, friendly pub.”

n The Telegraph has live music every weekend. On Friday, April 7, the popular COCO will perform from 8.30pm.

Summer barbecues will be held in the newly improved garden and there is free pool on Thursdays all day and night.