The former landlord of a 400-year-old pub has joined scores of objectors in their fight to stop it being turned into a study centre for private school pupils.

Ian Blackmore, who ran the Jolly Sailor in Northgate, Canterbury, for 10 years before it closed in 2018, has spoken out over the plans put forward by the King’s School.

It wants to convert the historic pub into a day house for pupils, claiming the proposal would “re-purpose an otherwise unused community asset into a high-quality educational facility”.

But alongside the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), Mr Blackmore is calling for Canterbury City Council (CCC) to listen to the dissenting cries of the public.

“Don't claim you're taking an unused building and turning it into something great if you're the ones that own it and have chosen not to do anything with it,” he said.

“There were hundreds and hundreds of people who used that pub, and the list of groups who used it came from all walks of life, from sports clubs to arts groups, community groups to political parties.

“People have lost that, and not because it has been struggling or has had multiple landlords going in there that can't make it work.

“I'd be very supportive of it becoming a pub and being the community asset it should be, as opposed to the past six years where it's just been a closed building. I shouldn’t have been the last landlord there.”

King’s says pupils would use the proposed day house when not attending form lessons, providing a common room and study space for use between 7am and 9pm, as well as serving as an office for their housemaster and matron.

It bought the site in 2019 and has left it empty since, coming under fire for its treatment of a “Canterbury institution”.

Handfuls of objections to the plans have been submitted to CCC, branding the move “disgraceful” and “sickening”.

James Ross, the acting pub protection officer for the Canterbury branch of CAMRA, told council officials: “The sudden and unnecessary closure of the Jolly Sailor six years ago robbed the city and its community of a popular and viable pub.

“The vitality the Jolly Sailor brought to Canterbury is still missed.

“This planning application should be refused and the Jolly Sailor afforded every opportunity to resume its place in the community at a realistic sale value or affordable rent.”

Mr Ross went on to add the pub closed due to “unjustifiable demands” by the then-owner Enterprise Inns, months before it sold off the site for a seven-figure sum.

Objector Sam Obbard added: “It is not fair that the rich and elite are buying up our communities’ assets and taking them away from those who call them home.

“The Jolly is a Canterbury institution, and the removal of this iconic venue should not be approved.”

Stephen Tierney added: “It has sat used and unloved for six years, which in itself is a disgrace, all because a powerful institution deemed it unworthy of its existence.”

A pub first stood on the corner of Northgate Street as early as 1619, known then as the Black Swan, before changing its name to the Jolly Sailor between 1780 and 1830.

The original building was later demolished and rebuilt with a cottage for £2,001, and in more recent years the “debauched” antics of punters caused multiple rows with its neighbours as it became popular with students.

A spokesperson for the King’s School said: “We are extremely keen that the site is used productively and has a community use, and our proposal supports the education of young people.

“We hope that permission is granted as soon as possible and await a decision from the council’s planning team.

“Many residents have said that they were very pleased when the pub closed several years ago.”

Gillian Rushton spoke of her support for the school, saying: “It developed a reputation as a student pub, with many drinks priced accordingly.

“Unfortunately, coupled with this ran a whole raft of anti-social behaviour, which regularly made life utterly miserable for local residents.

“Although the school acquired the property six years ago, it was unrealistic to expect any redevelopment during the Covid period. Surely the school is under no obligation to submit plans within any prescribed period.

“It will be good to see the property well restored and used constructively, albeit differently.”