A village with no shops and no buses has now seen its pub hit the market.

Historic The Plough Inn, in Ripple, near Deal, is a firm favourite of residents being one of very few facilities close by.

However the 300-year-old pub went up for sale this week with a price tag of £550,000.

Landlord Brian Davies previously told KentOnline that he was planning on closing due to general pressure on the hospitality trade and increased competition.

The tavern was listed as an asset of community value by Dover District Council last year

It means it cannot be redeveloped, and villagers were given the chance to submit a bid to raise the cash to buy it.

Last month, KentOnline visited Ripple to talk to residents about life in the village, which has no shops or a bus route.

Villagers spoke of their fondness for The Plough.

Customer Paul Doolin, 62, said: “I have been a customer here over the last 40 years and it has firmly been my local since I recently retired as a scaffolder.

“Without this pub I feel I’d have nowhere else to go.”

Terry Coffey, 81, has had a hip replacement but most days walks to The Plough for up to 50 minutes through fields from his home in St Richard’s Road in Deal.

“That’s with weather permitting,” he said.

“Otherwise, my wife and I have a car. It’s a nice, lovely pub, with good company and the people behind the bar are terrific. It’s also a nice village with nice people.”

Estate agents for the inn Miles and Barr said: “Presenting a unique investment opportunity, this property boasts a prime location with excellent potential for both commercial and residential incomes.

“The ground floor features a well-established pub with a loyal clientele, providing a solid foundation for a thriving business.

“Above the pub are four tastefully designed residential en-suite letting rooms, offering comfortable and convenient accommodation for tenants or guests.”

A bid to build six homes on a car park serving customers was recently quashed.

It was voted against unanimously at a planning meeting and the reasons included protecting the countryside and avoiding harm to the landscape and character of the area.

The council received 51 letters of objection and some protesters said that it would also lead to traffic congestion including from lorries emptying septic tanks.

Ripple is also home to a parlour for the Solley’s Ice Cream family business and its own bar called The Pub at Solley’s.