Managers of a family-run micropub are encouraging punters to purchase a “brick in their wall” as they set out to raise more than £200,000 to expand and buy the site.

Dave and Sasha Miller opened The Cotton Mill in Swanley in 2018 after years of working as general managers at pubs in London.

They currently rent the building, which used to be an old toilet block, from Swanley Town Council and have now decided to move forward with the business they need to own it.

Sasha said: “Buying the building will cement our future in Swanley, enabling us to continue serving the community for many years to come at a venue that is so desperately needed in the area.

“We don’t want to keep improving it and then one year the council changes hands or something and decides the rent is going to go up or that it isn’t sustainable for us to stay there.

“For us to own the building would be the pinnacle of us moving forward.”

In January, plans were approved to build an extension at the site, which will include a kitchen and an extension of the main room. Plans were also approved to landscape the garden.

Currently, Dave offers food in a horsebox at the weekends in the summer, which he says “always goes really well”.

But by having a kitchen, they would be able to offer pub grub all year round for their customers.

Dave says the pub has had a huge impact on the town, which is why they decided to set up the Crowdfunder – to involve the community with the future of the pub.

He explained: “I’d say we’re the only business that’s modern and forward-thinking in the area that’s trying to move the area forward and trying to grow and improve.

“It’s a bit of a sad reality that Asda was allowed to grow so big within the town, the high street really struggles against it.

“It means local businesses that you’d normally have, like butchers, don’t exist because they just can’t compete with it.

“We offer something completely different, we’re the only hub I’d say that the community can get behind and push forward – one that’s family-focused, positive and friendly.

“Before we opened, people would travel to other areas instead, so all the money the area could have had to improve itself was constantly being pushed outwards

“I think we’ve managed to bring that focus back in. We’ve become a community hub.”

Sasha added: “At the end of the day that’s what a pub is, it’s there to bring communities together.

“We never hear anything other than how great it is as a community hub.

“We’ve had people that have really struggled to socialise and make friends, especially since Covid, and they’ve joined groups like our darts club and made friends. For us, it’s very humbling.”

The couple, who live in Biddenden, near Tenterden, say they’ve spent around £60,000 on the pub to date, but the money has gone back into it.

They recently extended their inside seating area after the taxi office in the back corner of the building shut.

They have set a total target of £230,000, which would allow for the purchase of the building and the extensions to take place and say any and all pledges are welcome.

As part of their crowdfunding scheme they are offering different rewards should they prove successful in their expansion bid.

These include the “buy a brick” tier for those donating £125 or more, to purchase a brick in the pub’s new wall and inscribe their name or message, as well as a “foodies package” for which a £200 pledge will get you a main meal and a drink for up to four people on a date of your choosing when the new kitchen opens.

Dave added: “This was the best way we could see for the community to put their own stamp on it.

“It means we can include them on the journey with us, as we have in every other thing we’ve done.”

Donations can be made to the Crowdfunder here.

A number of fundraising events will be taking place before its deadline of September 13: Wednesday, July 31 at 7.30pm – 'A night at the horses' race night; Saturday, August 3 at 3pm – pub quiz; Wednesday, August 7 at 7pm – bingo; Saturday, September 7 at midday – darts open; Wednesday, September 11 at 5pm – curry night.

Sasha added: “We’re well aware of the current climate, but any amount gets you closer to it.

“At the end of the day, this is the starting point of what we know and what we’re going to manifest is going to happen next year.

“If we don’t hit the target, it’s not the be-all-end-all. It’s a starting point for us.”

The fundraiser, which has amassed more than £600 to date, has already received support from customers, with one saying: “Best of luck. Here’s to many more years of the best establishment in Swanley.”

Another added: “An amazing addition to the Swanley community.”