The fire which ripped through the Assembly Rooms last month started next door at the Chinese takeaway, we can exclusively reveal.

Kent Fire and Rescue confirmed that, after carrying out an investigation, the blaze which destroyed part of the Grade-II listed building in Preston Street broke out in the neighbouring Yeungs takeaway.

More than 20 firefighters from across the county battled to save the rooms, also known as the Drill Hall, just weeks after it had been fully renovated.

The kitchen, large parts of the roof and a storage room were destroyed or badly damaged and will need to be replaced.

Bill Croydon, chairman of the Faversham Building Preservation Trust which runs the Assembly Rooms, said this week: “If there is any question of compensation then it will be their insurance company, and not ours.

“It didn’t come as much of a surprise as if you look at the building and the way the two roofs join in Preston Street, you could see how it could happen.

“The old timbers are very close to each other and you could see how it could spread.

“We haven’t spoken to Yeungs but that is for our insurance company to do and I know there will be further investigations and questions from both the council and fire authority.

“The hall is useable at the front but we need to replace the roof and kitchen at the back so big parts of it are not accessible.

“We hope to be up and running as soon as possible and may have a surprise in store.”

The Faversham News revealed back in February that the property, which was first built in 1830, burned down in 1848, and when a new one was constructed in 1849, flames engulfed that one too, making this fire the third to hit the Assembly Rooms.

Yeungs Restaurant shut last year and a planning application was submitted back in November to transform the building into flats while retaining the takeaway.

The Faversham News attempted to contact the owners of Yeungs but was unsuccessful.