A pub which shut after tenants claimed it was “impossible to make a profit” could now be turned into a home.

Plans have been submitted to convert the Saracens Head in Deal, which was sold by Shepherd Neame earlier this year, into a residential dwelling.

The inn closed in March when husband and wife duo Matthew and Martine Brett stepped away from the bar just 13 months after taking over.

Six months on from the closure, the new owner of the building who bought the property in June, has submitted plans to turn the former boozer dating back to the Georgian period into a four-bedroom house.

Within the documents, applicant Peter Hadley states the plans “would see the demolition of the existing single-storey toilet extension to the rear of the building”.

Furthermore, Mr Hadley confirms the conversion works would only “take a very light touch to the existing building in order to retain its heritage significance and original character”.

The decision to leave the pub from Mr and Mrs Brett led to the brewery which owned the building to put the pub on the market with an asking price of £425,000.

The couple said they had done “nothing but lose money” since February last year, blaming the cost-of-living crisis and a lack of community support.

The building is thought to date back as far as 1806, when it housed a carpenter’s shop and several apartments.

Some 15 years later the premises was first referred to as the “Saracen’s Head beer house”.

Now, if plans are approved, the existing residential accommodation on the first floor would be modified to enable three bedrooms – one with a walk-in cupboard – to be served by a family bathroom.

The smaller bedroom at the top of the building on the second floor would also feature an en-suite and walk-in wardrobe.

As well as this, the existing storage building within the rear courtyard would also be removed.

Public comments on the application lamented the loss of the former pub and said it should remain as a community asset and opposed the plans to convert it into a family home.

Thirteen people oppose the redevelopment proposals while one is in favour.