A popular restaurant which closed after the sudden death of its owner has been purchased at auction.

The Hengist, in Aylesford High Street, went under the hammer last Thursday and sold for £310,000.

Experts at Clive Emson set starting bids for the freehold between £180,000 and £200,000.

The restaurant, once known for its glamorous ambience and award-wining cuisine, closed in September, two weeks after director Paul Smith, 43, was found hanged at his home in nearby Rochester Road. An inquest has been opened.

Mr Smith launched the village restaurant in 2005 with business partner celebrity chef Richard Phillips.

The grade II listed property, which auctioneers described as having conversion potential, has two dining areas, kitchen, bar area, annex room, roof terrace, two offices and a landscaped garden with a paved patio.

According to Companies House a company called the Hengist Restaurant Ltd, which was running the venue last year, went into liquidation in October.

It is believed Mr Phillips tried to keep the restaurant solvent and ran it under a different business name.