The owners of a £1m Kent pub have rubbished speculation that Johnny Depp is interested in buying it.

Reports suggested the Hollywood A-lister was looking at The Chequers Inn in Smarden which is currently run by Paul Hollywood's fiancée.

The venue, near Tenterden, has been owned by the Spalding family for several years – including landlady Melissa Spalding who has been dating the celebrity baker since 2019.

But KentOnline has been told rumours linking Depp to the 14th century site are nothing more than wild speculation.

"It’s an absolute load of rubbish,” the owner told this website.

“Johnny Depp has never had a drink here and is certainly not interested in buying the place.”

It was reported by The Sun in April that the Pirates of the Caribbean actor was “a huge fan” of the inn.

He was said to "love the history" and "had spoken before about wanting to buy a pub".

The site, in The Street, is still on the market for £1m, featuring seven rooms, a 35-cover bar, a 37-cover restaurant with a pizza oven, and a large two-bedroom owner's accommodation.

Depp, who is also well-known for his role as Edward Scissorhands, was last seen in Kent in June 2022.

A picture of the megastar holding a badger was shared on Facebook by Folly Wildlife Rescue in Tunbridge Wells.

In 2019, he helped an Ashford couple celebrate their first wedding anniversary by posing for photographs on the Eurostar.

The A-lister drank champagne with Roxanne and Dave King after joining them in the business class carriage with his agent and security guard.

He was travelling from Paris and signed a bottle of Moet before getting off the train at Ashford International.