The future of a 17th-century inn is in doubt after brewery bosses put the building up for sale with its current tenants set to leave.

Departing licensees at The King’s Head in Wye insist it will remain open during the sale process after owners Shepherd Neame put the gastropub on the market for £525,000.

The Faversham brewery says the Church Street venue is no longer required in its ongoing portfolio.

However, despite potential uncertainty regarding the long-term future of the inn, its current management team has been quick to confirm The King’s Head will remain open in the meantime at least.

Shepherd Neame’s managing director of pubs Jonathon Swaine said: “We are constantly evaluating our property portfolio to ensure that we target our resources effectively.

“As part of that ongoing process, we have decided to sell The Kings Head, Wye as it no longer fits our business needs.

“The pub, which has been part of our tenanted estate since 2000, is still currently trading and is being sold as a licensed premises.”

When contacted by KentOnline, the pub's current tenant and manager, who did not provide their name, said: “It would work well as a hotel but would need renovation in the rooms.

“We never made enough money there due to it being tied with all wet but if it were freehold it could possibly work.”

The latest change of management will be the third since 2020 when husband and wife team Chris and Deb Irwin took the reins of the business following the departure of long-term popular landlords Mark Lightford and Scott Richardson.

The current team then took over about 12 months ago.

The inn will stay open Friday to Sunday, opening at midday and closing at 11pm, midnight and 6pm respectively.

While the name dates back to at least 1678, the building itself is believed to be from the 1870s and is Grade II-listed.

It has been extensively refurbished over recent years to provide characterful trading areas with many original features.

The three-story property comes with seven en-suite bedrooms upstairs, with estate agents Christie & Co noting a new owner could seek to change the use of the building.

As a pub, it had a two-section bar and a dining room for 40 people as well as enclosed outdoor seating for another 40.

The premises holds a full-on licence permitting the serving of alcohol from 10am to 11.30pm five days a week, which is extended Friday and Saturday to midnight.

There is also a pizza restaurant – The Doughlicious Pizza Company - operating out of the back of the courtyard garden.