A pub owner says he is refusing to give up on reopening his town centre site despite the building remaining empty since the pandemic.

The John Wallis in Middle Row, Ashford, closed more than four years ago when the first Covid lockdown hit in March 2020.

Since then, it has gone on the market at a rent price of £45,000 per year but has remained boarded up this year.

However, owner Shen Sen, who bought the former Man of Kent site at auction for £350,000 in 2017, is optimistic the pub can trade again soon.

"The place is just sitting there and doing nothing while costing me money," he said.

"It's one of the best buildings in the town centre and detached too, so what is happening now is such a shame.

"I would have of course liked to have opened it yesterday, but I am now looking at hopefully about summer time as I can't see anything happening this year."

The 54-year-old is also concentrating on having the Grade II-listed building's upper two floors turned into guest accommodation.

A planning application for listed building consent to clear the way for that had been submitted to Ashford Borough Council (ABC) almost two years ago.

Although it was later withdrawn by Mr Sen in November last year, the business owner says he has now put forward a new application following advice by planning officers.

He says this is more detailed about key internal elements like guttering, downpipes and installation.

Still intending to keep it as 11 en-suite rooms, he added: "The building is rotting so we hope to change the upstairs to accommodation.

"The pub will open once that is sorted as it's a mess at the moment and we can't open one without the other.

"But we were advised by the council that the first application needed to be withdrawn.

"So we are now in the process of putting forward the new application which should appear live in the next week or so.

"After that, we will have to see what happens as it can take a long time to sort.

"Getting permission first is one thing but then we would need to start the work, so who knows [when it will reopen] as it's a long process."

Mr Shen says he also remains committed to delivering seven new homes in South Ashford.

He submitted plans last year to build seven flats next to the Fish Inn in Brookfield Road, which he also owns.

He is seeking to place four one- and three two-bedroom homes on a car park next to the site.

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When asked whether he believed the proposal, which is still under consideration, will be given the nod, he replied: "We think we will have the green light for this, so it's all about waiting now.

"It does look like I should get permission.

“But I have a lot of weight on my shoulders so we shall have to wait and see.”