Renovations at Dunkerley’s Hotel and Restaurant have seen the re-emergence of an old sign reminding passers by of the building’s past life.

Workers from Deal construction experts C J Gray Builders stripped back the Dunkerley’s sign this week, revealing the former Pier Hotel sign on the front of the property.

Owner Ian Dunkerley said: “It’s a nice surprise to see it as a sign of how things have changed.”

Mr Dunkerley purchased the Pier Hotel in 1997, expanding his business, having already owned the restaurant adjacent since 1987.

He added: “Deal has had some good press recently winning High Street of the year in the Telegraph and being named the 17th best place to stay in the Times. Us renovating is an example of how a lot of people are responding positively to that.

“We have put in a lot of investment over the winter.”

Among the changes at the hotel is a new bay window, improvements to the bar and new furniture in the lounge.

“We hope the scaffolding will be down by Thursday this week and that the work will be finished by Easter,” he added.

• The pubs on the seafront are gearing up for an event-filled summer on the Square (the outside entertainment area).

Like past years there will be plenty of bands performing on Sundays, jointly organised by the management at the King’s Head, Port Arms and Dunkerley’s. There will also be a joint charity day, on Sunday, June 22 - coincidentally it is on the 28th anniversary of Dunkerley’s being in Beach Street.