From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Liane Castle, 6 May 2023.

B Road Hunting Club reopens The Halfway House in Challock as The Stag with car theme.

Lamborghinis, Ferraris and McLarens are just some of the supercars that have been spotted at a village pub turned into a haven for petrolheads.

What was the "Halfway House" in Challock, on Canterbury Road between Ashford and Faversham, has now become the "Stag."

A plinth to showcase cars has been added to the garden at The Stag.

After getting the keys in January, owners Edd Little and Roger Gray spent just over three months painstakingly renovating the restaurant, bar and garden areas to bring the pub back into community use.

The 48-year-olds - who are founders of the B Road Hunting Club car group - will use the pub as a base for their group, but say it is a space for everyone to enjoy.

After opening on May Day Bank Holiday weekend, it has already attracted motor enthusiasts from across the south-east keen to share their passion for cars and sample the food.

Mr Little, a professional chef, said: “We've got exhausts hanging from walls, wheels in fire places, alloys on window sills, some very nice pictures people have donated, and old-school signs that have come from dealerships.

How the restaurant area now looks.

Car enthusiasts visited The Stag in Challock on opening weekend. Picture: Jason Dodd.

“Those who have known the pub a long time will also come in here and know we have done a considerable amount of work to turn it into something more bright, airy and welcoming.

“We've had motorbikes, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, McLarens, Minis, everything, a real mix over the weekend and it will continue.

“But everybody is welcome, it doesn't matter what you drive.“

The pub will host regular meet-ups, events and live music, but owners promise it will not become a place for “boy racer Tesco meets".

The venue has been welcomed by many villagers but some locals have raised fears over increased noise and traffic.

The bar area.

Roger Gray, founder of B Road Hunting Club at The Stag in Challock, with his family. Picture: Jason Dodd.

Car memorabilia decorates the walls throughout.

The pair insist the transformation will not encourage boy racers or anti-social behaviour on the roads.

The two men formed B Road Hunting Club five years ago as a way for petrolheads to get together and share their appreciation for cars, and it now has more than 3,000 followers on Facebook.

They started in a shed in Mr Little's back garden in East Sussex and eventually expanded to have a dedicated space on the Bentley Estate in Lewes.

Having outgrown the previous venue, the duo snapped up the pub on the crossroads along A252 Canterbury Road.

In the garden, a plinth to showcase vehicles has been added, and the run-down play areas have been taken out to make more room for when events are held.

Edd Little, founder of B Road Hunting Club at The Stag in Challock. Picture: Jason Dodd.

How part of the outside area looks.

The bar sells a collection of craft beers.

There is also a mini shop selling B Road Hunting Club merchandise and a patio seating area.

During opening weekend, people came in their droves to visit, some travelling up to an hour.

Mr Little added: “We knew the support was there because people were getting excited when we started to show snippets of the bits that were finished on social media, and it all came together in the last two days.

“The response has been amazing from locals and from the car community, we couldn't have asked for a better opening weekend.

“The morning was slow but then all of a sudden it was standing room only and the restaurant, outside garden, and car park were packed.

The team hope to host events in the garden.

“We are still working towards the finished article, we are open and serving food and drinks, but we need to now work on the final touches.

“We want to build the community within the village, within the car community. It is about bringing like-minded individuals together.“

The Stag is open from 9am until 11pm every day.