BrewDog has pulled the plug on plans to open its first pub in Kent.

The craft beer giant was set to launch one of its "iconic bars" at the new £115 million Riverside complex in Canterbury.

Co-founder James Watt announced the news last spring, and the company had even secured a premises licence for the prime spot in Kingsmead Road.

But the brewer has now performed a surprising u-turn, and will no longer be taking on the unit next to the site's Curzon cinema.

The decision marks the latest setback in a challenging few months for the firm.

In August it revealed it was shutting six of its pubs after being hit hard by soaring energy costs, and last month axed plans to open its first bar in Suffolk.

Efforts to seek comment from BrewDog on its decision to pull out of Canterbury have gone without response this week.

But KentOnline has been told the firm has made the city council aware it no longer intends to move onto the Riverside complex.

The unit is one of two yet to be leased, but council leader Ben Fitter-Harding is confident a new tenant will quickly be found.

"I understand that Brewdog has been facing a number of challenges to its business model, and while we were excited at the prospect of welcoming them this does present a fantastic opportunity to secure a new tenant with broader appeal at this great location," he said.

"Interest at Riverside has been really strong, and with several premises now open and entertaining people from Canterbury and beyond I don't think it'll take long for another tenant to come forward."

The businesses to have opened so far at the complex are Curzon, which launched its five-screen cinema in August, and eateries Korean Cowgirl and Heavenly Desserts, which both started welcoming customers last month.

Also lined up to open are upmarket Asian restaurant Sekoyya, Black Sheep Coffee, Fireaway Pizza, and Boom Battle Bar - a drinking spot offering revellers 10-pin bowling, shuffleboard, table tennis and axe-throwing.

The city council, which owns the site, never officially announced BrewDog as a tenant, indicating final contracts had not yet been signed.

Spokesman Leo Whitlock says the authority is hopeful the remaining units will be snapped up soon.

"We're really excited we only have two more units left around the central square at the Riverside scheme to market, and there has been an enormous amount of interest in them already," he said.

Despite BrewDog pulling out, Mr Whitlcok says an "incredible line-up" of businesses has already been secured for the complex.

"They are proud to be playing their part in building a leisure destination people cannot wait to visit, regenerating a key part of the city and creating jobs," he said.

"It's a normal part of the process that some companies that have talked about signing up see their plans and strategies change along the way."

Founded in Scotland in 2007, BrewDog has grown rapidly over the past decade, with bars and hotels opening across the globe.

But it was rocked in January last year when the BBC reported a number of allegations against co-founder Mr Watt, in which he was accused of inappropriate behaviour and abuse of power in the workplace.

The BBC Scotland Disclosure team started investigating the company after almost 300 former and current BrewDog employees signed a letter accusing Mr Watt of presiding over a toxic culture of fear.

Mr Watt branded the claims "false rumours and misinformation", but did "truly apologise" to anyone who had felt uncomfortable around him.