A dispute about rent between a landlord and tenant has led to the shock closure of a Sheppey hotel.

The Shurland, in Eastchurch High Street, closed to customers yesterday.

The venue was previously closed by administrators before being reopened after it was taken over by Rochester entrepreneur Elliot Hughes, of EFH Property, and business partner Paul Higgs in 2016.

Mr Hughes and Mr Higgs, the owners who have put about £1 million into the venue, said they had been in negotiations with Aidan Christie and his firm Crooked Billet Eastchurch Ltd to run the hotel and gym on a tenancy basis.

The hotel also had a gym, spa, bar and restaurant.

The firm took possession of the property last June, but the duo claim promised rent has not been paid.

Discussions had been underway to reduce a proposed monthly fee.

Mr Hughes and Mr Higgs said they had no choice but to ask the company to vacate the building and they hope to find a new tenant.

Mr Hughes said: "We had to make a very difficult decision concerning the termination of occupation by Crooked Billet Eastchurch Ltd.

"We agreed further concessions from the originally agreed heads of terms and until Sunday night it was still our hope an agreement could be reached which would maintain all The Shurland's hotel function bookings, gym memberships and jobs.

"We offered to extend the time for them to continue in the hotel while we continued to explore resolving this but that was refused and met with a derisory offer to purchase the building from us at £600,000.

"It is our hope a new tenant can be put in place very quickly and The Shurland reopens and serves residents and visitors to Eastchurch."

Crooked Billet Eastchurch Ltd declined to comment.

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