Plans to change a former cocktail bar into a takeaway have been given the green light.

Council officers approved the proposals for Room Forty Four, in Gravesend High Street, despite objections from the public.

The building, which also has four studio flats on the first and second floor, was sold for £440,000 by land and property auctioneer Clive Emson in the summer.

Last month, applicant Mr Ali Rana submitted plans to Gravesham council to transform the premises, which has served as a pub for nearly 450 years, into a takeaway with a kitchen and seating.

In the submitted planning statement, Mr Rana states that the scheme will “significantly help in enhancing and bringing [the] building back into use”.

However, four comments were received from members of the public all objecting to the scheme.

They said there were already enough restaurants nearby and there was no need for another takeaway and the history of the building as a public house should be preserved.

Despite this, council officers decided to approve the application.

Their report said it would be the first hot food takeaway in the northern half of the High Street therefore there “would be no over-predominance of takeaways.”

It added: “It is considered the change of use of the application unit from a public house to a hot food takeaway would not harm the overall retail function of the town centre.

“The proposed development would bring an empty unit back into use and would provide employment for staff when operating.

“The proposal is considered acceptable in respect of the principle of development, design, character, and appearance including heritage, neighbouring amenity and parking and highway safety.”

The public house is thought to date back to 1570 and was known as The Three Tuns, on and off, until around 2016.

It then became a wine bar called Prosecco before changing hands in 2019 when it opened as cocktail bar Room Forty Four.