A two-week countdown is on to save an historic 137-year-old pub from possible redevelopment after it was struck by lightning and destroyed in a fire.

The Green Man has been the beating heart of the community in the quiet hamlet of Hodsoll Street, in between New Ash Green and Vigo, for decades.

But tragedy struck last summer after it was hit by lightning and its timber frames reduced to crumbling piles of ash following a huge blaze.

At the height of the blaze in the early hours of June 16, five fire engines fought the flames and water was drained and pumped from a nearby swimming pool to help put them out. The building had to be demolished a few weeks later.

In the aftermath, residents rallied together to raise thousands of pounds for it and devastated landlord Alex Brooks, who had pledged to rebuild the popular boozer "as soon as possible".

But villagers say they now find themselves in a race against time to salvage their hopes of resurrecting the pub.

It comes after owner The Stonegate Group declared its intention to dispose of the site, prompting fears it could be sold off for housing.

Following a local-led campaign, Ash-cum-Ridley Parish Council registered it as an asset of community value (ACV) at the end of last year.

KMTV report of last year's fire at the Green Man pub

This provides the community with the opportunity to bid for the property in the event of a sale and gives them a six-month period to put together the necessary funding.

The Green Man Recovery Group was set up by the residents to explore all options to save the site, but it claims all attempts to engage in meaningful dialogue with the pub company have been ignored.

Local resident Sally Samuels, who set up the group, claims calls to discuss the viability of a local bid have been "stonewalled".

She said: "There is a small group of us who have got together and we are doing our best basically to get Stonegate just to agree to a meeting.

"But the problem we have is they have not agreed to that because there is still an active lease with the landlord."

That lease is now drawing to a close but time is now of the essence with less than two weeks for villagers to put together a bid before the ACV expires.

"It is really frustrating because we do feel like they are holding back until April 27," added Sally. "They have not given us any time at all.

"We can put a bid in but it does not mean they are going to accept it. A meeting is all we are asking for – a chat to see where it is going."

In the meantime, Sally says they could apply for an extension to the ACV moratorium but this would need to be explored with the council.

There are recent examples of pubs designated as ACVs being saved.

Nearby, the The Plough Inn in Trottiscliffe was rescued from property developers in 2020 after it was marked as a community asset and villagers dipped into their own coffers to save the pub.

Hodsoll Street has one of the largest concentrations of Grade II period properties in the Sevenoaks district.

But The Green Man does not hold such status and unlike The Plough Inn, an existing building is not already in place to work with, explains Sally.

The local campaigner said: "The problem we have is we have nothing on the site. Anyone who has changed these sites around, they have a building to work with.

"So first we have to got to secure the land to say it is a community piece of land and we can do something, that is our step forward.

She added: "Raising funds is a huge ask but it is a long way off for us before we start anything."

At the time of the blaze last summer, residents were left shocked and devastated with some describing it as "horrific" and like losing an "old friend".

Landlord Alex Brooks said it was a focal part of village life, adding a lot of his regulars "were at a loss as to where to go".

On Sunday, nearly 100 people came out to show their support for rebuilding the pub and guarding against unwanted development.

Sally said she was "bowled over" by the turnout, adding: "We had a fantastic turnout of locals who came along to show their support, including dogs and two beautiful horses."

Ten months on she says the sentiment towards rebuilding the pub remains the same.

"Talking to people, it has been nearly a year since the pub burnt down and they still passionately and desperately want a pub," she said.

"One man said he used to come a couple of hours one afternoon because he lived by himself, and he really misses it .

"We are quite a small community, we don't have big shops or a high street and the pub was a place for a lot of people to get together."

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson has also expressed his preference for the pub to be rebuilt but expressed doubts.

"It would be wonderful if we could achieve that but it will be difficult," the Tory said in reference to the long-term trend of permanent pub closures.

Despite this, Mr Johnson hoped a deal could be struck so that some form of community asset could be built in its place.

A spokesman for Stonegate Group said: “We understand the frustrations arising from the delay regarding progress at the Green Man, however the discussions with the current tenant have not been concluded and therefore we cannot progress the future outcome of the pub at this stage.”