The future is not looking good for a Maidstone pub which closed last month.

The Pilot, in Upper Stone Street, poured its last pint on Tuesday, January 31, and owner Harvey’s Brewery is now reviewing its future.

Andrew Christie, estates manager for the East Sussex business, said: “I will be meeting with the landlord in the next few weeks to discuss its future. It’s been operating right on the edge for a few years.

“We reduced its opening hours and it was still struggling. It’s not the best of locations. It’s not looking good for the pub. There’s not many applicants out there and pubs are struggling.”

Once pub of the year for Maidstone and Mid Kent, the Pilot was famed for its Sunday night quizzes and live music.

Harvey’s, based in Lewes, is a family-run brewery which was formed in 1790 and operates 49 pubs across the south east.

The Pilot was the brewery’s only Maidstone alehouse, with the next closest being the Two Brewers in Hadlow.