Fen Bell Inn's beer garden zoo pulls in the punters

Fenn Bell Inn customers have newborn baby marmosets, among others, as drinking buddies

You've heard the saying about organising a particularly raucous event in a brewery - but what is it like to run a pub that doubles as a zoo?

Andy Cowell and wife, Kelly, owners of the Fen Bell Inn, combine pulling pints with taking care of a range of exotic animals housed in the beer garden.

The pair took over the pub last October when it was "pretty much on its knees". Now they say it is doing a roaring trade.

Kune Kune pig Spice, seen here with Ginger, has arthritis and requires daily medication

Customers can enjoy a pint of beer alongside meerkats, monkeys and racoons at the venue in St Mary's Hoo, Kent.

Mr and Mrs Cowell decided to turn the 17th Century inn into a new home for their growing collection of animals - after they ran out of space at their farm.

The pub took on Noodle, a male Great Grey Owl, which would otherwise have been put down

Mr Cowell had taken in unwanted animals before, but said he needed space to expand.

"A lot of our animals come from people who have died, we can offer them a home for life," Mr Cowell said.

With food costing £250 per week, and a £7,800-a-year vet's bill, the Cowells hope the pub's revenue will provide security for the animals.

Racoons like to put in an occasional appearance for customers too

The Cowell's plans for the future include free educational workshops for children

Mr Cowell said: "We want to offer something different from the sanitised zoo experience, a nice atmosphere where we can also educate people into not keeping them as pets.

"Next year we will offer free workshops for children - we would love to inspire the next David Attenborough."

Now currently working towards a zoo licence, the pub is on its way to becoming Medway's first zoo.

Around 100 chickens also call the pub their home

In a couple of weeks the Kent pub will even be home to a wild cat