A country pub ranked among the UK’s best is up for sale after inspectors handed it a zero-star food hygiene rating amid a cockroach infestation.

Owner Josh De Haan was forced to temporarily close The Woolpack Inn at Warehorne, Ashford, after the insects were deemed to pose “a significant risk to health”.

The council initially refused to release the report to KentOnline, saying the hygiene score had been uploaded to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) website in error.

But almost six weeks later – after we continued to push to see the findings - we were finally sent the document.

Now, the Pickled Egg Pub Company has confirmed it is officially on the market for £950,000 plus VAT.

The firm refused to comment on whether the zero-star hygiene rating had influenced this decision when approached by KentOnline.

In a statement sent out by the company, boss Josh, son of multi-millionaire Sir Roger De Haan, said: "The Woolpack has been an incredible part of our journey, and we’re so proud of what we have achieved here.

“The decision to put the pub on the market wasn’t taken lightly, but we believe it’s the right step to allow us to refocus and continue delivering the very best experiences across our portfolio.

“The Woolpack is a truly special pub with huge potential, and we’re confident it will attract the right operator to take it forward.

“We want to reassure our guests that we’re still very much open for business and looking forward to welcoming them in the weeks and months ahead."

The food hygiene report revealed environmental health officers uncovered serious issues on January 6 during a “partial inspection”.

“You agreed to voluntarily close the food premises due to the presence of an active cockroach infestation which poses a significant risk to health,” it said.

“There is an active infestation of German cockroaches in the food premises.

“Cockroaches foul the environment with faeces and regurgitated food.

The inspector said any potentially contaminated food must be thrown away and took issue with “poor cleaning and maintenance”.

A build-up of grease and debris was found in the coves in and around the kitchen, with some food produced on site beyond its use-by date.

Since then, the 16th-century pub has been handed a three-star rating after a March inspection.

In November 2019, it was one of three of the county’s top pubs snapped up by restaurant group The Pickled Egg Company, owned by Josh De Haan.

It now forms part of the Rocksalt Group, also owned by Josh.

Fluerets, the London-based property firm responsible for the sale, said the move forms “part of the company’s strategic realignment, allowing it to focus on strengthening its core operations closer to its headquarters in Folkestone.

“This will enable the company to continue growing sustainably.”

Last autumn, The Times named The Woolpack one of the UK’s best pubs to visit, praising its fireside meals and selection of Kentish beers and wines.