Plans to turn a once-popular pub into six flats have been withdrawn.

Applicant Ilhan Nurhakli submitted the proposals for the Hen and Chickens, in Chatham, to Medway Council back in March.

Yet before a decision could be made, the application was withdrawn.

The future of the watering hole, or what will happen to it, now remains a mystery.

The boozer – known as The Hen and Chicks – in Luton High Street closed in 2019 and many have been speculating over its future ever since.

When last orders were called at the now vacant public house, the brewery launched a bid to find a manager but nobody came forward and it was put on the market.

The pub was then set to become a Turkish restaurant and then a halal butchers – but neither happened.

Plans were then submitted earlier this year to turn it into six residential flats and build a first and second floor side extension.

If given the green light, it would have created a single one-bedroom apartment and five, two-bedroom units.

The proposals also included alterations to the existing roof and construction of dormer windows to facilitate the conversion of the upper floors into apartments.

Originally a farmhouse, which dates back to 1702, the Hen and Chicks, was converted into an ale house in 1746 and was frequented by brickmakers and agricultural workers.

Over the decades most of the once numerous pubs in Luton, which were used by dockyard workers and servicemen, have closed with many converted into homes.