A landlord has moved on after a fire which devastated the pub, leaving him "heart broken".

David Goulding, who was landlord of The Hoy in Margate, saw his Christmas trade go up in flames after a fire ripped through the site.

The blaze, which started in an internal wall, meant hundreds of bookings were cancelled after fire crews spent hours tackling the flames.

Mr Goulding was forced to close the pub doors, and is now running The George Inn in Broadstairs - meaning the seafront site is in need of new tenants.

Following the fire, the pub has been fully refurbished and is ready to open its doors again.

He said: "Bev and I were disappointed to leave The Hoy after six-and-a-half years building up a good Sunday Roast etc, but it was time for us to move on.

"But we wish the new tenant all the best whoever that might be.

"The fire left us heart broken, not only for our business,also all the Christmas booking and parties through into the new year.

"We let down 65 for Christmas day and have had to cancel wedding receptions and other booked events through to the summer of 2018."

Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has been appointed to bring the pub to the market for tenancy.

Andrew Moore, director of Christie & Co's Maidstone office, said: "Having been closed for the past couple of months due to a fire, The Hoy has now been fully refurbished and is ready for a new tenant to take the helm.

"The Hoy was previously a popular local, and I have no doubt that the community will welcome the re-opening of this prominent pub, which benefits from a desirable position on the busy Margate seafront, a prime destination on the Kent coast."