Villagers are rallying together to rebuild and protect from development an historic 137-year-old pub after it was reportedly struck by lightning and destroyed in a fire.

The Green Man had stood in the quiet hamlet of Hodsoll Street, between New Ash Green and Vigo, for more than 130 years until a fire ripped through it in June.

Inside, the pub's timber frames were wrecked and the roof was destroyed.

At the height of the blaze in the early hours of June 16, five fire engines fought the flames and water was drained and pumped from a nearby swimming pool to help put them out. The building had to be demolished a few weeks later.

In the wake of the blaze, residents rallied together to raise thousands of pounds for the devastated landlord who pledged to rebuild it "as soon as possible".

They also launched a petition to have the pub, a backdrop to a calendar of yearly events including the village fete, declared an asset of community value.

Ash-cum-Ridley Parish Council has since had it registered as an asset, which means the community has the right to bid for the property in the event of a sale.

KMTV report on the devastating fire

The pub's owner, The Stonegate Group, has now declared its intention to dispose of the site and it is hoped the building's new-found status will help residents protect the site from being redeveloped for another use or sold-off for housing.

People living in the area have formed the Green Man Recovery Group to consider all options for funding its purchase and rebuilding.

They hope to secure enough support to put together a plausible takeover bid.

Current landlord Alex Brooks, who ran the pub with partner Steph, is hoping to secure the site's future as a pub and is in ongoing talks with the owners.

He says the recovery group is attempting to "gauge local opinion" and see what it can offer in terms of funding and drawing on different residents' areas of expertise.

Alex said: "The owners have now expressed their intention to dispose of the site but as it has been declared a community asset we have got a timescale to put a bid together.

"We are looking at all our options. I think the key take away is the community is still trying their best to ensure it is still a pub."

He added: "A number of people are worried if developers get their hands on it it could become housing.

"Everything is being done to ensure that does not happen."

The landlord expressed his interest in getting back behind the pumps himself but hopes, in any event, a deal can be struck to ensure it remains a pub.

Alex described it as a focal part of village life and said it had been "huge loss" to residents, adding a lot of his regulars "were at a loss as to where to go".

The dad-of-two had originally intended to explore operating a table service outside during the summer months whilst under Covid restrictions but later opted against doing so as he said it would be "too sad" for everyone.

At the time of the blaze, residents were left shocked and devastated with some describing it as "horrific" and like losing an "old friend".

More than £8,000 was raised on a GoFundMe fundraising page for the landlord, who used some of the funds to help support his family and staff.

But in the event the project gets the green light, Alex says much of the cash will be put towards legal costs and repairing its iconic sign, which he managed to salvage from the blaze.

The Green Man Recovery Group has until Wednesday, December 8 to notify an intention to bid.

If the group forges ahead, it would then have until mid-April next year to submit a formal bid, under normal market conditions, to acquire the property.

It says the more local support there is for such a venture, the more likely it is to succeed and has urged potential backers – financial or otherwise – to send an email to greenmanrecovery@gmail.com to express their interest.

Nearby, in Trottiscliffe, near West Malling, the Plough was recently saved from redevelopment after it too was designated an asset of community value.

Villagers dipped into their own coffers to save the 500-year-old building from redevelopment into housing after it was sold by the previous owners in 2017.

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