A 200-year-old pub has gone on the market after its closure earlier this year.
The Bull Inn in London Road, Dover, shut at the end of February, having first opened its doors in 1823.
Having been shut against the wishes of the landlord and amid rumours of it being demolished, the historic boozer has now gone up for sale.
Estate agents Burnap and Abel slapped a £395,000 asking price on the property, saying: “The previously popular public house is ready to be returned to its former glory, where the residents of Dover and beyond used to come and enjoy a friendly drink.
“This property is now crying out for its new owners.”
Originally owned by Apple Taverns, funeral directors W.J Farrier & Son bought the pub and its land years ago but allowed it to continue trading as a free house.
Former landlord Warran Kingsnorth said he was told the enforced closure was due to Farrier bosses wanting to demolish the property, and confessed he would have happily stayed if given the chance.
“It’s a good little pub, it’s very well used but it’s out of my hands,” he told KentOnline.
“It’d be a massive shame because pubs are disappearing up this end of town and it’s a nice end of town.
“You don’t get many little local pubs like this anymore. They all turn into wine bars or fancy places.
“Everyone’s gutted. The staff, my family, and the customers are devastated – this has been their local for so many years.
“I’d stay here quite willingly but they have plans for their business, and it is just business at the end of the day.”
Mr Kingsnorth took over the pub in January 2011 with his partner of more than 20 years Sharron Hubbard.
The pair married just weeks before she died in 2015 after a short battle with lung cancer.
With a riverside pub garden with a stage for live music, The Bull gained a reputation for its entertainment offering.
It has also hosted a variety of sports and quiz teams and has been used as a base for charity fundraisers Cessy Crascall and the Sunshine Girls.
However, managing director James Farrier publicly refuted the claims – though said he did “not need to justify the reasons why” the boozer shut.
In a statement on Facebook, Mr Farrier said: “We have experienced many challenges obtaining planning permission to extend our premises onto the site and even though permission has now been granted, I’d like to state that this does NOT include the demolition of the pub itself.
“We have explored the different avenues of what to do with the pub and redeveloping it has been mentioned but at this stage the building will remain whilst under our ownership.
“The pub will close as planned at the end of February and we do not need to justify the reasons why. First and foremost this is a business decision and it hasn’t been an easy one.
“We, as a family, have had very close connections with the Bull over the years. My grandfather and father used to drink there and many wakes have been held there for funerals that we have carried out.
“Being one of Dover’s oldest pubs, the last thing we wanted to see was it close down but again, due to business reasons this decision had to be made.
“I cannot guarantee that it will re-open as a pub but as I’ve already stated, it will NOT be demolished under our ownership.”
