A 600-year-old pub once one of Kent’s longest-running inns has gone up for sale.

The King’s Head in Wincheap is thought to have stayed open continuously from the 15th century until its sudden closure in June 2022.

A Grade II-listed free house, the inn is being offered on a freehold basis but would require “complete refurbishment” to bring it back up to scratch.

Listed for £425,000, estate agents Fleurets are leading the efforts to sell and have described the medieval tavern as having “immense character”.

Bosses at the estate agent said: “The pub is being sold on behalf of a private client who has now retired from the licensed trade and offers an opportunity to restore and reopen it as a character inn.

“It has several other advantages, being prominently situated on a busy road and in close proximity to lots of businesses and housing, including big new residential developments at Thanington.

“It is therefore ideally situated to serve the local community, capture passing trade and is almost unopposed.”

On the ground floor is the heart of the pub with bar and dining areas which boasts features such as open fireplaces and traditional wood flooring.

In the garden is a sizeable beer garden, a bat and trap pitch – a sport which has roots in Kent – and an off-street parking space for the new owner.

It has also been suggested the first floor and second floors, which were used as living accommodation and attic space, could be converted to provide accommodation, something Fleurets believes there could be a strong demand for.

Before those in charge brought the shutters down, the King’s Head had a remarkable reputation among customers with a 4.5-star rating on Tripadvisor.

It was also home to The Thin Tart, which served classic pub grub alongside flammekueche – a thin bread dough covered in creme fraiche, onion and a variety of toppings.

The closure of the King’s Head left The Maiden’s Head as the sole drinking hole in the Wincheap area.