The couple behind a quirky country inn hailed “Kent’s most remarkable pub” are moving to a new venue a village along – and taking the name with them.

The Timber Batts in Bodsham, near Ashford, has developed a reputation for its museum of curiosities collected over several years, but the current tenants have packed up and left at the request of the building’s owners.

Ross and Sarah Berry are relocating seven minutes away to The Compasses in Sole Street, Crundale, which suddenly shut earlier this year.

It will be renamed Timber Batts at The Compasses.

The move comes just months after KentOnline’s pub reviewer, The Secret Drinker, called the venue “out of this world”.

He added: “It is welcoming, wonderfully quirky, ferociously, non-politically correct and punky, but it makes no excuse for its unique approach and you must accept it and enjoy it.”

It is this charm that has been a “recipe for success” for the tavern.

Having been in charge of the pub for seven-and-a-half years, Sarah and Ross say they have made “good, lifelong friends”.

Speaking about the move, Sarah said: “I have a warm feeling about it.

“They are not just customers; we have been so welcomed here and it's been really, really lovely.

“But we’re not saying goodbye - just moving up the road.”

The Timber Batts is believed to date back to the 15th century and takes its name from a former saw mill nearby, where timber was cut down into battens, or batts.

It is not clear if the Bodsham building will continue to operate as a pub, or retain the Timber Batts name.

But Sarah and Ross – who say they were given until December to vacate the building – have their eyes set only on making a success of their new venture.

The landlady recalled: “When our lease was terminated it was a case of ‘I don't want to stop what we're doing’.

“We are a brand, we are busy and have good customers.

“Why stop that when there's somewhere available and it's the next village along?

“If we go somewhere all our customers will follow.”

Ross and Sarah’s last day at The Timber Batts was on Saturday, July 29.

There is a lot of work to be done at their new venue, but they hope to welcome customers again next month.

Sarah says it will offer an eclectic menu cooked by her, including rabbit burgers and Yorkshire pudding cheesecakes.

The Compasses, which was once recognised in the Michelin Guide, closed its doors in March this year.

The owner cited cost-of-living-crisis struggles and said the hospitality industry was in a "scary state".