A Western-style pub with a rich history is to be turned into a house.

Dancing Dog Saloon in Sheppey Way, Bobbing, near Sittingbourne, will become a single home after planning permission was granted.

The watering hole had served punters for 20 years and was a meeting point for villagers as well as attracting Americana fans from further afield, thanks to its quirky theme.

During its time as a pub, it featured in a film production called: Life and Times of Holly Turner – a true story about a mixed-race woman from Louisiana who was brought up by her white father and her three half-brothers in the USA in the 1930s.

However, the last pints were poured in the saloon in April 2022, with rising costs following the Covid-19 pandemic being the “last straw,” according to the owner Shaun Egan.

The former landlord told KentOnline he was “very sad” that the pub had to close but “the saloon was no longer financially viable”.

Back in 2015 Shaun’s mum, Rita Egan, who was 84 at the time, was left counting her lucky stars after a car ploughed into the building, taking out the seat she had been sitting on just moments beforehand.

Shaun said at the time: "About a minute before it happened she got up to walk to the other end of the bar to hear what someone was saying to her.

“She said it's the first time she was glad she is partially deaf.”

Swale council had previously rejected the plans for the change of use in December last year.

Planning officers said the application failed to produce evidence demonstrating there was no demand to retain the site as a pub.

In March the pub was put up for sale with an asking price of £395,000. Despite six viewings, all offers were substantially under the asking price.

The plans for the house conversion were then resubmitted in July.

The case officer, Rebecca Corrigan, concluded she was now “satisfied that it has been reasonably demonstrated that the retention of the use as a public house is no longer viable”.

She recommended permission should be granted and Swale council approved the plans last week (October 20).

The pub will be converted into one large four or five-bedroom home with the ground floor being turned into a main living area, including one master bedroom.

Meanwhile, the two rooms upstairs will be retained.

There will be slight changes to the exterior of the building, which include the removal of a small section of cladding above the main entrance and to the side of the building.

Also pencilled in is the replacement of one high-level window on the ground floor with a standard window.

The car parking area will be reduced and turned into a garden.