A quirky pub has sold at auction for £600,000 after the landlord quashed fears he will stop pouring pints.

The Seaview Pub and Hotel in Birchington recently went under the hammer shortly after its innkeeper vowed to keep serving for at least another five years.

Speaking after the lot attracted the desired asking price, auction appraiser Jon Rimmer, explained: “The Seaview Hotel is on the corner of Prospect Road and Station Road and is close to the railway station and seafront”.

“Many will recognise the building and outside it has a beer garden and parking for four cars.”

The Seaview’s ground floor boasts a U-shaped bar area with central servery, kitchen and toilets, as well as a separate function area and cellar with two store rooms.

Its current seven-year lease generates £50,000 a year – but is due to expire in August 2029.

Speaking shortly after the venue appeared for auction, landlord Garath Williams said: “Just to stop any rumours the freehold of the Seaview is up for sale but not my lease.

“We will remain here running the pub as a pub until at least 2029.”

The property has a kitchen, shower room with separate toilets, office and five letting rooms on the first floor whilst there is a three-bed manager’s flat on the second floor.

There is an office to the rear of the site and the building comes with a beer garden boasting the peculiar decorative feature of two rib bones from a whale and off-street parking for four cars.

It was among 147 lots listed for sale by Clive Emson.

Mr Williams has been involved at the pub, which was sold by Shepherd Neame at auction in 2017 for £350,000, since 2017.

In his time, great efforts have been made to show sporting events and live music as well as the introduction of the Seaview Smokehouse.

Once known as The Railway Tavern, it is thought the Seaview took up its current name in 1874.

The property itself opened as a pub/hotel in 1865 two years after the London, Chatham and Dover Railway reached Birchington which resulted in a local economic boom.

The hotel was built to cater to the influx of holidaymakers with many visitors liking the resort so much they purchased a bungalow and became villagers themselves, using the Seaview as their local.

By the 1900s, the then-smaller building incorporated the adjoining Pond Cottage to extend to Prospect Road.

Hidden in the garden are two blocked-up wells, one of which is said to be 240 ft deep.