A road will remain closed until 2025 while work starts to build a care home in place of a once popular pub.

Punters watched as the Ascot Arms in Gravesend, was completely torn down earlier this year to make way for the three-storey, 62-bedroom facility.

David Beattie was one of the spectators.

Recalling what life was like in the boozer during its “good old days”, he told KentOnline: “Everyone was friendly. It was like the British version of Cheers. Everyone knew your name in there.

“It was just a friendly local pub. I have a great many friends from drinking in there. You did not need to go with someone, you always knew someone.”

Plans to demolish the pub and build the care home were approved by Gravesham council in July 2022 after it had sat vacant and boarded up since 2019.

In their decision report, council officers said although they acknowledged the proposals would see the loss of a public house they said it was clear that continuing trading was not viable.

It added: “The development of this site for the use as proposed along with the demolition of the public house building is considered to be appropriate and a sustainable use within the local area.”

Last week, Ascot Road, at the junction of Central Avenue, was closed for 67 weeks to allow for construction work.

It is expected to be reopened by February 11, 2025.

The foundations of the new care facility, which will be known as Springwood Corner Care Home, have also been erected and builders are on site.

A crane can be seen from across the town as works continue and hoardings from Folkestone-based contractor Jenner have been put up around the plot.

Care home provider Avery Healthcare – which also has centres in Sittingbourne, Sevenoaks and Herne Bay – has said the project is expected to be complete in early 2025.

It says recruitment for roles will start late next year.

The home will offer residential, dementia and respite care to the elderly and there will also be facilities such as a salon and therapy room, cinema and activities room.

Before it was demolished, the pub dated back to 1932 and was called the Central Avenue Hotel.

It changed its name to the Ascot Arms in 2001 but regulars did not take to it.