My New Pub George & Dragon Inn

Sandwich, Kent

Agent: Fleurets

Brothers Matthew and Mark Philbott are hoping to establish their new town-centre site as a top destination dining venue.

The George & Dragon Inn is the first pub they have been in charge of. Matthew will head up front-of-house with Mark in charge of the back-of-house. Matthew, who has worked in the trade for 10 years, said: "We are looking to shift the quality of the food up a gear or two. It was pretty standard when we came in — just pizzas and other basic pub grub, but we feel confident about turning it around."

Head chef Mark has worked in kitchens for 17 years and has devised a mid-priced menu of locally-sourced pub food.

Starters include mushrooms on toast with spinach and pan-fried duck egg or grilled goats' cheese (both £5.25). Mains include lemon sole with clams and vegetable broth (£12.50) and roasted pork fillet with cabbage, bacon and sage & onion sauce (£11.95).

The pair are slowly replacing fixtures and fittings and tableware to bring the pub up to scratch and plan to completely re-decorate within the next year. The wine list is also to be overhauled.

The town-centre Enterprise Inns leasehold site has an open-plan bar with exposed timber and brick walls, L-shaped function room and dining area for 19 covers to the rear, and a trade garden. A manager's studio flat is on the second floor.

The site sold off an asking price of £99,950 and 14 years are left on the lease. Trade was £400,000 last year and the current rent is £43,077.