A village’s last-remaining pub is set to close and could be turned into a house, with its landlords blaming a lack of support from locals.

Paula Gilbert and Steve McHugh – who took over The Chequers Inn, near Canterbury, two years ago – say they “feel like failures” after “trying everything" to prevent the business from nose-diving.

A fresh planning application to turn the 19th-century Petham tavern into a residential property claims it has provided landlords with an average hourly salary equivalent to less than £3.

Blaming the impending closure on diminishing support, Ms Gilbert told KentOnline: “It's a shame. I've worked so hard and I've tried everything and it just makes me feel like a failure.

“If I can't make the rent and the bills, there’s nothing else to be done.

“Financially, we've tried for the last year everything that we could. We gave up everything, even our own home, to put into this place to try and keep it going.

“But the support wasn’t there – especially from those same villagers who wanted us to reopen it.”

The duo revived The Chequers – situated along Stone Street, five miles outside the city – after it had been empty for three years.

Their takeover came with the backing of villagers who had long tried to reopen the venue themselves.

But Ms Gilbert says that support has evaporated, leaving her no choice but to close down and move on.

She and partner Mr McHugh are set to move back to their native Medway when the lease comes to an end, with continued hopes of staying in the industry.

Meanwhile, current owners Lorna Monica Sukhdeo and Daniel Taylor, who bought the building in 2018, are looking to revive a 2019 plan to turn the venue into a house – a scheme previously rejected following an appeal in 2021.

In official papers recently submitted to Canterbury City Council, the owners now argue the pub has been unviable for more than 10 years.

Their design and access statement says the average hourly salary of landlords at The Chequers since 2011 equates to just £2.73.

“It should go without saying that a public house which has been demonstrably incapable - over a sustained number of years and under different management - of paying its landlords at least the minimum wage is not financially viable,” it adds.

“Periodically, over the last 25 years The Chequers Inn has been closed for a substantial amount of time.

“The location is not viable as it is situated on a main road with a speed limit of 50mph.

“In the immediate area there are limited houses to financially support the pub, and the centre of Petham is a mile away.

“A mile is not a substantial distance but when you factor into the equation that a large portion of the route does not have a safe public footpath, the site soon becomes very unsustainable for walk-in trade.”

It states the project would not “cause any material detriment” to the area or its “rural character”.

The tavern has had a tumultuous history in recent times.

Following an extended closure period, then-parish councillors Norman Clark, Scott Collins and Dane Henderson planned to purchase the pub in 2021.

They hoped to raise at least £250,000 from residents to be eligible to apply for government funding to cover the rest of the freehold’s price – which stood at £590,000.

The trio then expressed their relief when Ms Gilbert and Mr McHugh took it over.

In a review in July last year, KentOnline’s Secret Drinker found the establishment to be to his liking – but warned it would need more from the community to survive.

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He said: “This is exactly the sort of pub which, not only needs, but fully deserves, to be supported by its locals.

“But, sadly, it seems the response of villagers could put the future of The Chequers in jeopardy.”

The Chequers Inn planning application is currently awaiting a decision.