A pub landlord has called time at the bar quoting music legend Bob Dylan to announce the closure of the town centre boozer.

The Fleur De Lis in Sandwich is set to close its doors next month following a shock statement to punters about the 382-year-old venue this week.

Manager Richard Harris, who has run the Delf Street business for the last six years, told customers in a Facebook post: “As everyone knows, and just as Bob Dylan once said, ‘the times they are a-changing’ and I’ve taken the decision to close the doors on The Fleur De Lis.

“As many of you have known for a while now, I’ve been debating on this decision and decided to move on and spend more time on my passion for music and events.

“Thank you to all the wonderful regulars we’ve had, the list is way too big to try namechecking you all but thank you for your support and all the wonderful memories we share together.

“It’s business as usual for the next two weeks and I hope to see many of you for a drink and of course, we are going to be going out with a bang on our last weekend.”

The pub’s final trading day will be Monday, October 7.

Over the years it has hosted shows by household name bands and singers such as The Real Thing and Toyah Wilcox, who is in the current series of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.

It has held regular live music nights on Friday and Saturday nights.

The band User Friendly plays at 9pm on Friday, October 4, and The Fix! appear at the same time the next evening in the pub’s final weekend.

The first recorded mention of the Fleur de Lis was in 1642, when the town crier proclaimed it as a meeting place for volunteers to fight for Charles I and the royalists during the English Civil War.

The existing building dates back to 1785 and built during the reign of George III before serving as the coaching office in Sandwich from where transport could be booked to Canterbury, Ramsgate and Dover.

A coach house and stables were located within the property and throughout the 19th century, coaches could be taken from the pub until the arrival of motor vehicles saw the demand die out.

The Fleur De Lis is also a hotel and restaurant and the announcement of the shutdown brought in messages of dismay from customers with best wishes to staff and management

There were more than 200 messages in reaction to the post which was published on Tuesday.

Dan Friend, a district council ward member for Sandwich, wrote: “Gutted, many great times and events here. Best of luck to you and the team for the future.”

Sharron Russell said: “Seeing it in writing makes me so sad. Without doubt you have been the best landlord of the Fleur ever and we've been using it a very long time. Sandwich will miss you without a doubt.”

A group called The Someday Band wrote: “Thanks so much for giving us, as a new band on the circuit, an opportunity to play your fantastic venue and allowing us some much appreciated exposure.”

Harry Sampson said: “Saddened to hear this, many of us in Sandwich and beyond will miss great times at The Fleur. Best wishes and good luck for the next amazing journey you guys embark on.”

Bob Dylan is considered one of the greatest singer-songwriters. He has been highly influential since the 1960s, often making political and social comment in his lyrics.

The American’s other famous songs include Blowin’ in the Wind and A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.

KentOnline has contacted the Fleur De Lis management for further detail and comment about the closure.