A landlady is still holding out hope of saving a historic pub – after plans were revived to turn it into houses.

A fresh bid to transform the Two Doves in Nunnery Fields, Canterbury, into two homes has been launched by firm LJW Developments.

Documents lodged with the city council say “there is no real prospect” of the tavern, which sold its first pint in the 1880s, being able to trade viably again.

But Katrina Maclean, who runs the New Inn in Havelock Street, believes she would be able to breathe new life into the boozer.

“It’d just be a talking pub, no live music or anything like that to upset any of the neighbours. It would be viable,” she said.

“I’ve got a wet-trade pub and it’s been doing better and better as the years have gone by.

“We weren’t affected too much by the coronavirus.

“It’s got an enormous amount of support. I get emails from residents’ groups and Camra asking what the latest is with the Two Doves.”

Ms Maclean says she would turn it into a smaller version of the New Inn, and subsidise her income from the business by renting out the flat above.

The pub has remained shut since 2019, when LJW Developments unveiled similar plans to turn it into two properties.

At the time, it was revealed the site’s trading loss of £740 in 2013 rose to more than £9,100 in 2017. Its tumbling earnings were blamed on its size and “inability to develop to provide a food offer”.

The local authority snubbed the housing scheme, before marketing company Sibley Pares put the old alehouse – thought to have been built in the 1800s – on the market for £425,000.

A report compiled by estate agency employee Ned Gleave says the company received no offers in the 12 months it had been marketing the property.

“The property continues to fall into a dilapidated state, incurring insurance, utilities and other maintenance related costs,” he said.

“A total of 11 separate enquires were received throughout the marketing period and no offers have been received to date.

“It is clear there is no demand for the property for its continued use as a public house or for alternative commercial uses.

“Meanwhile, the residential market continues to improve, for which price growth has reached record levels in the same timescale.”

Mr Gleave says he received interest from two potential buyers who were considering bringing the pub back to life, while two others were looking to transform it into a takeaway or a restaurant.

However, he insists they concluded it was in an “unviable location due to low levels of passing trade” and that the cost to refurbish the building would be too high.

But emails shared with KentOnline show Ms Maclean lodged two offers - one for £350,000 two years ago and another of £400,000 in June - for the site.

The businesswoman expects it would cost her about £25,000 to fit out the pub – but papers submitted with the local authority by LJW state the refurbishment bill would be £84,000.

Chartered surveyor Nigel Thirkell says “there is no real prospect of the Two Doves being able to trade in a viable manner in the foreseeable future”.

“I’ve put in offers and been trying,” Ms Maclean continued.

“I can’t force them to sell to me, but it makes me cross when they say it’s not worthwhile.”

When asked about Ms Maclean’s offer last year, Sibley Pares said it had not met the asking price and that the firm’s requests for proof of funds or finance arrangements were not answered.

Without these, the company says it could not put the bid forward for consideration and, therefore, did not record it.