Multi-million-pound plans to build a gastropub on the site of a former golf course could be in jeopardy as the industry continues to be squeezed by coronavirus.

Development firm Quinn Estates has started building the first phase of its £20 million 97-home estate, called Eddington Park, off the Thanet Way in Herne Bay.

The proposals, which were given the green light by councillors last year, include drawings for a new tavern.

Despite having held talks with a potential client for the premises prior to the outbreak of Covid-19, Quinn Estates chairman Mark Quinn thinks it will be unlikely for him to come to a deal with a landlord when lockdown ends.

“If someone came up to me in the next six months and said they were wanting to do a pub, I’d do it," he said.

"But the likelihood of that is low, so we’re going to have to look at what we’re going to do with that land if someone doesn’t come forward.

"I think it's unlikely that someone is going to invest £4 million to build a new pub when they are going to be fighting to keep their existing pubs open, with the hit the leisure, pub and restaurant sector has taken in the last two months.

"We will have to look at what is on the site with a degree of realism, taking into account the new set of circumstances when we come out of this."

Mr Quinn says the area earmarked for the gastropub could instead contain a new gym or further homes.

The developer struck a deal with Co-op to move into the site’s 372 sq m store in October.

And he insists that the shop - which is expected to cost about £600,000 and create 18 jobs - and all of the homes will be built.

“We’ve got a skeleton team on the site, so we’re practising social distancing and following all the guidelines,” he added.

"We're building a much-needed shop for that new community, with office space above and we're going to deliver affordable homes; we're creating economic investment and work for people in the area when we come out of lockdown.

“Next summer we’ll have the first phase completed.”

Housing association Moat will run 30% of the flats and houses on the plot as affordable properties.

But Mr Quinn says that hopes of building almost 1,200 sq m of office space on the plot may also be dashed by Covid-19.

“At the moment, you’ve got the entire banking sector operating from home so if anyone thinks there’s going to be the same need for offices after this, then they are detached from reality,” he said.

“I don’t know what we’ll do, but I cannot see the same level of office development coming forward on this scheme in future.”

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