A town pub which never recovered after the Covid pandemic could be turned into flats under plans submitted to a local authority.

If approved, The Dragoon in Sandling Road, Maidstone, will become four homes.

Landlady Clare Parslow pulled her last pint after seven years behind the bar at a farewell party for her regulars in January after admitting trade was hurt during lockdown.

Previously speaking to KentOnline, she said: “To be honest, business has been very, very dead. We’ve never recovered our trade since Covid.”

The pub's former owner, Shepherd Neame, confirmed the building was sold to CKE Homes Limited, which is based in Sutton Road, Langley.

Planning documents sent to Maidstone council outline proposals for the building to be converted into four flats – two on the ground floor and two on the first floor.

While operating as a pub, there was already one flat on the first floor.

It is proposed to demolish a single-storey toilet block and smoking shelter at the back of the building and construct a small first-floor extension over the existing terrace.

You can view the plans on the council’s website, with reference 23/503490/FULL.

Applicant CKE Homes said the pub’s closure was down to the pandemic and noted the site was one of three Shepherd Neame pubs in the area to close within the past four years.

A planning statement said: “The closure of The Dragoon is the latest in a series of public houses to be closed by the owners, Shepherd Neame.

“Some of these, such as the Dog and Gun in Boxley Road and The Swan in County Road, were within the built-up area of Maidstone, both of which were not all that far from The Dragoon.”

Just under two years before it closed, the Secret Drinker visited and was left impressed.

He praised the “lively, friendly, helpful, abusive, chatty and hard-working” staff as making the difference for back street boozers like The Dragoon.