It's a sad day for pub-lovers in Maidstone as another hostelry bites the dust.

The Dragoon in Sandling Road is now closed and boarded up and its distinctive hanging sign has vanished.

Pub landlady Clare Parslow pulled her last pint after seven years behind the bar at a farewell party for her regulars in January.

She said: “To be honest, business has been very, very dead.

“We’ve never recovered our trade since Covid.”

The pub's former owners Shepherd Neame comfirmed that the sale of the building had now been completed and the new owner is CKE Homes Limited, of Bicknor Farm, Sutton Road, Maidstone.

It is believed the new owner has plans to convert the building into flats, but the company did not respond to a request for comment this week.

The same company purchased the redundant Dog and Gun pub in Boxley Road, Maidstone, two years ago and has since gained planning permission to convert it into eight homes.