A Grade II-listed village pub run by Paul Hollywood's wife could be closed and turned into a house.

The Chequers Inn in Smarden, near Ashford, has been owned and run by the Spalding family for many years – including long-serving landlady Melissa who married the celebrity baker in September.

But the historic site in The Street – which dates back to the 16th century – could now be converted into a “single dwelling” home after a planning application was submitted to Ashford Borough Council (ABC) last week.

The public house was listed on Rightmove for £999,995 in April last year – with Pirates of the Caribbean star Johnny Depp linked with a bid – but efforts to offload the site have “failed”.

The application states that owner Glenn Spalding and his wife have reached “retirement age” and have recognised that the business is “unsaleable”.

It highlights how The Chequers struggles to compete with nearby pubs The Flying Horse and The Bell, which are both owned by breweries.

It says: “With three public houses serving such a small community and with a changing approach to drinking in the 20th century it was always going to be difficult for all three to survive.

“There is no obvious other commercial use to which the building could be put and the decision made was to seek a residential use of the building.

“Whilst the business has good Tripadvisor reviews, Smarden is not located in a prime position to capitalise on the tourist trade and the trade there is, is no longer adequate to maintain the business.

“Use of the guest rooms, which underpinned the business, has been heavily undermined as the three local attractions drawing visitors now have accommodation options closer to them.

“Headcorn Aerodrome now provide accommodation in Egerton as part of a “package deal”, the nearby Big Cat Sanctuary now provides accommodation adjoining the site and Sissinghurst Castle is now served by closer accommodation available at The Three Chimneys and The West House Restaurant in Biddenden. This has left The Chequers struggling.”

The application says the pub has battled to stay afloat since the pandemic and amid rising energy costs.

It says the reason the business survives is largely down to the fact Mr Spalding lives on-site, takes no “salary” and has help from family to staff it, “thus keeping the overheads low”.

“The situation now is that bar trade is insufficient to justify seven-day trading and the public house element now closes from Mondays to Wednesdays,” it adds.

“In three years of marketing, there have been no viewings, presumably because potential purchasers can see the same issues.”

In April, it was reported by The Sun that Johnny Depp had his eye on the £1 million boozer and was said to be a “huge fan” of the pub.

However, the Spalding family branded the rumours “absolute rubbish”.

One famous face who has definitely taken an interest in The Chequers is Paul Hollywood, 57, who lives in Smarden and reportedly met Melissa at the pub four years ago.

Before lockdown in 2020, the Great British Bake Off star also judged a village baking event held at the venue to raise money for Smarden Parish Council.

According to a LinkedIn page for 39-year-old Melissa, she has been landlady of The Chequers for 16 years.

The seven-bed property dates back at least 500 years, according to Historic England, and listed building consent would be required for any work to or alteration of the site.

The quaint, weather-boarded pub reportedly possesses a secret underground passage to the parish church next door, but its whereabouts is uncertain.

According to local legend, it is inhabited by the restless ghost of a French soldier who was a prisoner of war in the area during the Napoleonic Wars.

In more recent times The Chequers won a Tripadvisor excellence award and made it into the 2019 AA Guide 'pick of the pubs' .

As well as a bar, the timber-framed pub has a 37-cover restaurant with a pizza oven.

The plans say the property, while large, has a considerable area of land around it with parking and outbuildings - and would suit a “particular part” of the residential market.

A decision is set to be made on the application by the end of March.