Drivers visiting a car-themed pub are being urged to “leave with respect” amid fears the site could be shut down just two months after opening.

The owners of B_Road at The Stag in Challock - formerly the Halfway House - have put out the warning after reports of visitors revving engines and speeding along the A252 Canterbury Road and A251 Faversham Road.

It comes as Ashford Borough Council (ABC) has confirmed bosses are investigating if car meets are actually permitted in the beer garden under the venue’s current planning permission.

The pub, between Ashford and Faversham, opened in May after self-confessed petrolheads Edd Little and Roger Gray spent months renovating the venue.

Since then, the pair have attracted car enthusiasts from across the south-east, holding regular themed events.

But the opening has not been welcomed by all, with some villagers complaining about the behaviour of motorists visiting the venue.

It has prompted the owners to reiterate the need for visitors to respect the rules of the roads or risk the business’s future.

In a statement shared on Instagram on June 16, the owners said: “These opening six weeks of B_Road at The Stag have been truly overwhelming.

“The support, feedback, comments and love we have received has been amazing.

“We have to remind people though, please when coming to visit, whether your parking in the car park or the garden, whether it’s an event or open house, please NO revving of engines, no anti-social behaviour on site, and most importantly when you leave can you all remember it’s not just the minute you leave the car park it’s a free-for-all.

“Can you respect the village of Challock and surrounding areas and leave with RESPECT!

“We know the roads leading away from the pub are good roads and the urge to blat down the road in front of the garden is strong, but please can you leave in a manner in which the locals and ourselves won’t have a problem with.

“If people continue to leave in a manner which isn’t in keeping with our policies then we won’t be here, it’s that simple.

“Please help us to continue that journey.”

The owners pledged to ban any rule-breakers who may jeopardise the business – and followed through on that promise by barring a Mitsubishi Lancer driver on Wednesday night.

In an Instagram post, they wrote: "It would seem even after standing at the entrance and thanking them for coming, they still decided to leave at full chat down the road!

"So thanks for your support this evening but you are now BANNED from our venue.

"There were also three to four others who escaped tonight… yet again you just don’t get it… arrive or leave in this manner and you’ll either be banned or we won’t exist as we will get closed down!

"Not a post I wanted to be writing this evening but one that I’m afraid needs to be done! Leave with respect."

Lamborghinis, Ferraris and McLarens are just some of the supercars that have been spotted at the village pub in recent months.

Since getting the keys in January, the owners said the venue would be used to host gatherings for car enthusiasts, but not a place for “boy racer meets”.

But an ABC spokesman says the authority is now looking into the site, saying: “Officers in the planning team are carrying out investigations at The Stag to establish whether the use of the site for car meets is in breach of planning permission.”

In 2020, the A252 through Charing, Challock and Chilham was considered one of the 50 most dangerous A-roads in the country, with Kent County Council spending £2.1 million on safety improvements.

It followed a string of serious and fatal crashes, including one in March 2017 that killed Chilham parish councillor Paul Hardisty near Dane Street, Chilham.

Three years earlier, a 68-year-old woman died after her Fiat Panda hit a tree on the A252 at Chilham.

In a statement, Kent Police says it works with licensed businesses to ensure sites are safe.

A spokesman said: “Officers in Ashford frequently work in partnership with licenced premises and the local authority to ensure the district remains a safe place to live and to socialise.

“Advice and support is given to licensees regarding dealing with instances of anti-social behaviour and best practices going forward.

“The local council should be residents' first point of contact for noise concerns, but police will respond to persistent issues if they are believed to be linked to potential offences.

“Anyone experiencing anti-social behaviour is encouraged to report it through our website, by calling 999 if a crime is in progress.”

The owners of B_Road at The Stag were unable to comment further when approached by KentOnline.