Chucking out time at tiny former pub
Work is under way to transform what was once one of the smallest pubs in the country into a house.
The 12th century Little Gem has stood crumbling and unoccupied in the heart of Aylesford for six years and in June, despite a lengthy campaign to save it, Tonbridge and Malling Parish Council approved a planning application.
Last Thursday, workmen moved in and began clearing it out ahead of building work.
Attempts to sell the Grade II-listed High Street premises for £ 230,000 were unsuccessful and efforts to stop development, with more than 4,500 people signing a petition, fell on deaf ears.
When a bid from James O’Callaghan, from Middlesex was approved Cllr Mike ParryWaller, chairman of the planning committee, said despite the owner’s promise to consider all offers he thought it was unlikely to ever be a pub again, adding: “It’s just not big enough.”
Aylesford has two remaining pubs, the Bush in Rochester Road and the Chequers Inn in High Street.
Heather Worrall, who led a campaign to save the freehouse, said: “Let’s just hope they do a good job and it’s in keeping with the rest of the village. All we can do now is watch.”
Mrs Worrall said the street was ‘like a Monopoly board’, with the same man owning the pub, and the neighbouring shop and business centre, adding: “Who knows what he’s going to do?”