A town’s oldest pub, which dates back to the 1600s, has been listed as a community asset to protect it from being developed.

The Ship Inn in Central Parade, Herne Bay, mysteriously shut at the beginning of the year, sparking fears among locals it would be transformed into flats.

Pub owners Stonegate quickly clarified the pub would be reopening, and earlier this month fulfilled their commitment when Chestfield Barn publicans, Alan and Michele Clarke, stepped in to run the boozer.

Now, a campaign set in motion by the Save the Ship group following the original closure has met its goal to have the historic tavern listed as an asset of community value.

This will make it more difficult for developers to change the venue's use or close its doors permanently in future.

While the risk to the heritage of The Ship Inn seems to have eased, the threat of redevelopment is very real, with the closures of several nearby establishments including the Plough Inn, Bun Penny, Queen Victoria and Rodney’s Sports Bar in recent years.

Responding to the protection order, the Clarkes said: “Everyone at The Ship Inn is thrilled with the news.

“As a community of staff and a family-led business, our main goal is that our customers feel part of our community too.

“This listing is recognition of that. We're so looking forward to welcoming more of the community and being at the heart of Herne Bay as we move forward.”

The Ship Inn officially reopened on April 12, with the venue’s first two weeks being met with a positive response from locals.

On Friday, the Clarkes plan to take the next step for the pub by reinstating its restaurant.

Following the success of his Save the Ship campaign, Cllr Dan Watkins said: “Ten years ago the government gave local communities the right to register community assets to give them additional planning protection.

“We have used the ACV status to retain other pubs in Herne Bay, and it's brilliant news that we have done the same for The Ship.

“The pub recently reopened and we wish the new publicans every success in returning The Ship to its former glory, safe in the knowledge that its community status has been recognised.”

The seafront site has a rich history, which likely helped it gain its new asset of community value status.

Once a renowned smugglers' haunt, the pub is thought to have stood there in some form since the late 14th century.

It is recorded as a rendezvous point for many heavily armed gangs preparing to fight for their illegally-gained wares of tobacco, lace, tea, gin and brandy among others.

Lights from vessels would twinkle across the bay reacting to signals coming from the beach.

The pub, which has in recent years been extended to include a terrace overlooking the sea, once also doubled up as a mortuary.

Further along the seafront, the plot that used to be home to the Bun Penny has been transformed into a block of flats and The Plough Inn site in Margate Road has been turned into a five-property development.

Following his involvement in the campaign, which will hopefully protect The Ship Inn from a similar fate, Cllr David Thomas said: “That we were quickly able to get several times the number of signatures from local residents to qualify for ACV status is testament to the Ship's popularity.

“I'm delighted that the council recognised the amazing history of this pub and the community it serves to help us keep it as a pub.”