One of Sheppey's most popular pubs is getting a £283,000 makeover.

The Wetherspoon's Belle and Lion in Sheerness High Street is converting unused land next door to expand its beer garden.

Manager Kelly Smith said: "The side extension will give us an extra 82 seats, tripling our original garden capacity from 44 to 126."

She added: “The land was overgrown and neglected before we started work.”

The new garden paving matches the existing design and a second compass feature has been added to the floor.

The extension will be covered by a steel and glass canopy which pub bosses are now waiting to be delivered.

Half-moon flower baskets will be added to match existing planting and festoon lighting will stretch the width of the garden.

An existing brick outbuilding is being refurbished into a "snug" which can be used by groups. There will be modern grey/cream and black chairs with marble-effect tables.

Kelly said: "We were hoping the extension would have been ready for Easter but we had some delays getting everything approved. At the moment we are hoping to be using it by the end of the month.”

The garden, like the rest of the JD Wetherspoon pub, is fully accessible for those with wheelchairs.

The pub, which boasts award-winning toilets, was forced to close during the Covid-19 pandemic because of government imposed restrictions, like all others, but was one of the first to reopen. Staff say business is now back to normal.

The Belle and Lion was opened in July 2014 after the national pub chain spent £1.2 million converting the former Brittain and Hobbs electrical store.

In its first four weeks staff pulled 10,791 pints of lager and sold 2,575 breakfasts, 3,503 hot drinks and 3,191 burgers.

Land for the garden extension comes from the shop next door now used by Megadale Estates.