A former entertainment complex, community centre and doctors' surgery were some of the many Kent properties to sell after going under the hammer this week.

Iconic period building The Odd Fellows Hall in Orange Street, Canterbury, was one of the biggest sites to be on the market with auctioneers Clive Emson on Thursday.

The site, which has been a prominent feature in the city for almost 150 years and is home to much-loved bars and entertainment venues, fetched £450,000.

Director and auctioneer Kevin Gilbert said: “Part of the hall is let for £15,000 per annum although the vast majority is vacant.

“It will be well-known to many in the town and to the rear is a yard and access to Turnagain Lane.

“We had interest from investors the lot which is situated at 15 Orange Street and is a period Victorian property.”

A stone’s throw away from the Marlowe Theatre and Canterbury Cathedral, it was sold on behalf of the Odd Fellows trustees.

But managers at The Ballroom, which occupies an upper floor of the 19th century building, say they will be going nowhere as a result of the sale.

Behind its trademark blue and red doors, the property is split into two, with the first floor being occupied in part by The Ballroom - which is seeing its existing 10-year lease come to an end in September 2026.

Auctioneers have confirmed the venue is being sold with the current lease in place.

The building also used to house cocktail and music bar Bramleys before that business’s demise two years ago.

The first brick was laid in 1876 and replaced the old Prince of Orange Tavern, a pub which dated back about 100 years prior to the erection of Odd Fellows Hall.

The Odd Fellows group was founded in 1810 as a social club, offering friendships and help in times of need.

Meanwhile, the now-vacant Tenterden Antiques Centre also sold at the gala.

The business closed its shutters on January 31 after more than 30 years in the town's high street.

The semi-detached property sold for £278,000 - more than 54% higher than its freehold guide price of at least £180,000.

Auction appraiser Chris Milne said: “Investors were attracted to this lot, which is quite distinctive.

“The competition led to the final price being well above the guide.”

Another property to begin its newest chapter was Sittingbourne's Phoenix House.

The 1,300 sq m site in Central Avenue was a former community centre but most recently operated as a food bank.

The property opened in 1991 and about 6,000 people belonging to dozens of clubs used it each month.

However, it did not reopen after the pandemic due to the condition of the building, which would have cost more than £100,000 to fix.

It was sold on behalf of Kent County Council (KCC), which owns the land, for a fee of £351,000.

Mr Gilbert said: “Phoenix House is a timber building close to the leisure centre and adjoining the library and Central Avenue car park.

“We consider it would be suitable for a variety of uses and if permissions are obtainable the whole site might be developed.

“The property consists of a central hallway with various rooms, including a kitchen, former canteen, storage rooms, toilets, offices and meeting rooms.

“It has its own parking and the entire site extends to 0.32 acres (0.13 hectares).”

KCC had let homeless charity The Bus Shelter Kent Community Hub use the building as a base but took it back in March last year.

At that time it said it was “surplus to requirements” and was set to be “disposed of”.

Another property to be snapped up at the event included Scragged Oak Farm in Detling, Maidstone.

The 3.2-acre site was granted planning permission by the local authority in April last year to be demolished after developers Designer Heritage Homes announced it would replace the home with 10 outbuildings.

After selling for £501,000, Mr Milne said: "The new accommodation would consist of five bedrooms and an open-plan kitchen/dining room, living room, utility room and study.

“Clearly this lot attracted the attention of developers and we had a number of interested parties.”

Other properties which successfully went under the hammer were the former doctors' surgery known as Weald Surgery in Morleys Road, Sevenoaks Weald.

Previously serving as one of four surgeries in the Hildenborough & Tonbridge Medical Group, it became vacant when the partnership halved its number of practices to just Hildenborough Medical Centre and Trenchwood Medical Centre several years ago.

The detached building, just off the A21, sold for £150,000 – significantly higher than its £90,000 guide price.

Clive Emson describe the property as “offering potential for a variety of alternative uses subject to all necessary consents being obtainable.

“It has parking at the front for two vehicles and we had a lot of interest which saw the price go well above our guide,” it added.

Another lot to find new ownership was former fitness studio, Nu You, in London Road, Dover.

The vacant shop, which was also previously home to SMOK' air Store and military equipment trader SEMMA4, saw its winning bidder pay £225,000 for the shop, two flats and courtyard as part of the three-storey property.

However, it wasn't all success for auctioneers.

A branch home to one of the UK's most popular retailers failed to sell for its £650,000 guide price.

A town centre eyesore currently home to Sports Direct already has planning permission for a retail and residential development.

The 18th-century Sittingbourne High Street building already has prior approval for eight flats and two retail units on the dilapidated site.

Planning permission for the redevelopment of the Grade II-listed building was granted in April last year.

It is not known whether or not Sports Direct would have moved out had it have sold.

Finally, a roadside 17th century barn left empty for several years also failed to begin its newest chapter.

The site on the A28 is believed to be the former stable block for The Bull Inn in Bethersden, near Ashford, which sits opposite the land.

The Grade-II listed building last appeared on the market in 2017, when it was sold by Shepherd Neame, which still owns the nearby pub.

It went under the hammer for £50,000 but failed to sell.