Business Booming at Dane Allchorne’s Kent Pub

Taking on an empty English pub and turning it into a thriving, village hub was the goal for New Zealander Dane Allchorne – and he succeeded, writes Angela Cole for Kent Online.

Just witnessing the number of regulars popping in for a drink in the bar of The Milk House on a Monday afternoon, it’s clear it’s the heart of the village.

But two years ago, it stood on The Street in Sissinghurst, Kent, empty and desolate.

It took Allchorne and his wife Sarah to pump plenty of investment, enthusiasm and ideas back into the 16th-century building to turn it around.

The result is a tastefully decorated pub, with four rooms above, a bar and restaurant, and outdoor terrace with a pizza oven in the summer, run with 58 full and part-time staff who are all local, including seven chefs.

For Allchorne, who has worked for clients all around the world, it was a first business venture.

“We drove past the place and saw it was empty and thought ‘What’s going on there?’” Allchorne said.

“We could see it was in an ideal location. I’d done some pop-ups and consulting and it gave me the enthusiasm to start this business and take that leap of faith.”

Original article by Angela Cole, Kent Online, May 10, 2016.