For 52 years generations of customers have frequented The Concorde in Wakeley Road, Rainham.

But all that will end on Sunday as it undergoes a £200,000 facelift which includes a new name.

After one last party night on Saturday, the business closes for a month-long revamp.

A new kitchen, improved bar area and family-friendly amenities are planned by landlord and lady Aaron Booth and Marian Strelley.

They have been in charge for 18 months, but a large part of that saw them closed because of lockdown.

Keen to make the pub a valued part of the community, they've persuaded bosses at Admiral Taverns to invest the money.

Opened in 1969 as part of the new surrounding housing estate, it was named after the Anglo-French supersonic jet.

Not only did the plane make its maiden flight that year, parts were assembled in nearby Rochester.

Aaron, 46, said: "We're looking forward to the new start, we're looking to bring the community together.

"It's an old estate pub this, and we want it to be at the centre of things."

Although its name was once the latest in modernity, Aaron says many locals have suggested the boozer badly needs a complete rebrand.

According to him, this is because down the years – and a succession of short-term managers – the pub got a bad reputation for drugs.

He added: "The place really needs a lot of work doing to it; it was just horrible. It needs to change with the times and it will."

Mum-of-two Marian says food will be a major part of the new set up with Aaron creating a smokehouse menu.

As for the new name, the couple – who previously ran the Old House at Home in Sheerness – also took customers' advice.

Aaron said: "We're going to call it The Rainham Arms because we're a local and want locals to be proud of us."

The estate was once orchards which supplied fruit to Buckingham Palace.

The plan is to re-open the pub on December 9 with a fundraising craft fair held that weekend.

"We can't wait to re-open and get under way with everything," Marian said. "It's going to be great."

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