There is still space for a pub around the back if anyone wants to take it on.

That was the sentiment expressed by a businessman who tore down a historic pub dating back to the 18th century to expand a successful supermarket chain next door.

To many the exterior of the Londis premises in Heath Road, Coxheath, on the outskirts of Maidstone, looks like any other in the convenience store’s repertoire.

But round the side, along Stockett Lane, sits a disused building block with a locked door and fogged-out windows.

The empty unit had been earmarked as a replacement boozer for the Bird in Hand, which had stood in its place since the Victorian era until it was eventually knocked down.

Back in 2010, owner Shamsher Singh Bains decided to close the venue after a flurry of complaints from residents and an incident many years prior in which a teenage boy died in the pub’s car park.

He instead applied for planning permission to expand his Londis store next door to improve the amenities to the village while retaining space for a pub should there be a demand for it.

Plans were approved by 2015 and construction started soon after.

A summary of those proposals read: “The Bird in Hand was established for a number of years and has a history of trading on this site.

“Indeed, both the government and organisations such as CAMRA are pushing the ‘Save our Pub’ campaign, where they are seen as an important community amenity in village situations.

“The scheme preserves the public house use in line with this campaign, but in a form that will better serve local residents.”

But eight years on the space earmarked for a potential replacement drinking hole remains vacant.

Shamsher explained when the block was built they had a few people interested but “people just didn’t have the money”.

But he still hopes someone will be able to make use of it still – whether that’s taking on the blueprint for the pub or not.

He added: “We would love someone to come and run it but there aren’t people willing to invest the time and funds.

“If anyone wishes to run it then they are more than welcome to come and see me.

“It doesn’t have to be a pub, it could be a café of sorts.”

One prospective buyer had been Duncan Spencer who had expressed interest back in 2016.

The 67-year-old was the leader of a community group that looked to take over the troubled Bull Inn pub in nearby East Farleigh which new owners are now looking to reopen.

It’s something I could see doing well, especially for a place that no longer has a pub

He said: “I went into the shop and was interested in the pub.

“I looked around with my son but we took the level of interest as a bad sign and didn’t want to compete.

“After hearing that we thought it would be open in no time, eight years later, and still no one has moved in.

“Given the growth of Coxheath, there is pent-up demand there but like with the Bull Inn in East Farleigh you can’t make someone sell or lease their building to you.”

And despite having previously owned pubs Duncan is not in the market for getting back behind the bar.

He added: “It’s something I could see doing well, especially for a place that no longer has a pub.

“The size of it I couldn’t see it doing food and would perhaps have to be wet only but if you could make it work.

“I wouldn’t run a pub anymore but if my son decided he wanted to get back in the business I would help him out.”

The village of Coxheath was previously home to two other pubs.

The Victoria has now been converted into housing at the top of Gallants Lane, while The Bell Inn has been refitted as Indian restaurant Spice Lounge.

Cllr Lottie Parfitt-Reid (Con), who represents Coxheath and Hunton Ward, questioned whether a pub would be viable at the location still given similar ventures nearby.

She said: "This debate rears its head every so often with people complaining that there is no pub in the village but then others question whether people would actually go to the pub.

"Pubs are hard businesses to run in the present economic climate and I wonder whether people would turn up to the back of the Londis when there are plenty of other pubs nearby.

"You can't force somebody to build something even if they do have planning permission.”