A vacant high street pub set to become flats and a micropub is up for sale.

The Old House at Home in Sheerness is on the market for £350,000 and has been labelled a “rare opportunity” by sellers.

Last year Swale council granted permission for the watering hole, which dates back to the 1860s, to be demolished and replaced with a mixed-use building featuring a micropub and eight homes.

The pub, previously owned by Shepherd Neame, is in a prominent position at the junction of the High Street and Trinity Way and has been serving pints for at least 150 years.

However, it closed its doors for the final time in 2020.

It has sat empty ever since and plans to redevelop the site were submitted in 2021 by a Mr M McAllister.

A statement backing the plans said: “There has been a gradual decline in the number of pubs in Sheerness partly due to a shift in culture, the introduction of national chains such as Wetherspoon, and a move away from Sheerness’s association as a naval town.”

The former public house and its planning permission is being advertised as having a “strong re-sale” value and being within walking distance of the railway station.

Being sold by Family Homes, a statement under its listing on Rightmove says: “A rare opportunity to acquire a prominent building in Sheerness town centre.

“The planning comprises the demolition of the existing public house and for a mixed-use development over three storeys, the ground floor will house the commercial space along with associated parking for each apartment, the eight apartments are spread over the first and second floor.

“Situated in a prime Sheerness town centre location you will have a strong rental demand as well as future capital growth.”

In early 2022, when debating the planning application, Swale councillors were concerned about the design of the flats and voted to defer the application.

Following this, new designs were considered that had a more traditional appearance.

The original scheme featured seven flats but the redesign saw the addition of an extra one, as the remodelled roof meant there was more floor space.

Despite its Victorian history, the pub is not historically listed or in a conservation area but planning officers stated: “Its long-standing contribution to the local community through the provision of a public house has resulted in the building having some historic value.

“However, the creation of a micropub on the ground floor of the new proposed building will help to ensure that the site retains a public house on the site, which will be of continued benefit to the wider locality.”

However, at the time the late Cllr Cameron Beart, who represented Queenborough and Halfway, said he was not convinced a micropub would ever open, predicting it was more likely to be used as a shop or something else.

His suggestion to add a condition that anything of historical interest found during the demolition work should not only be examined and recorded, but also retained rather than end up in a skip, was accepted.

The amended plan was approved unanimously by councillors in August 2022.

For more information about the sale click here.

To view the planning permission enter 21/500204/FULL into the Swale planning portal.