A 370-year-old inn which was once decaying into ruins could be open by summer, after a painstaking 14-year restoration project.

The Old Cottage Pub on Margate's High Street was serving pints up until 2007 when the doors closed and the building was left in a sorry state.

Two years later, David Gorton snapped it up for a "bargain" £90,000 on an episode of Homes Under the Hammer.

He had initially planned to open the pub on the same date as the Turner Contempory back in April 2011.

But Mr Gorton has been beset by delays - caused by planning issues and, he admits, his own ambitious vision for the site.

Speaking to KentOnline inside the 17th century building this week, he said: "It must be the longest-running Homes Under the Hammer project ever."

When it finally reopens - hopefully by the summer - it will include features such as its own brewery in the basement, an upstairs restaurant and Airbnb rooms.

The Grade II-listed property was built as a home in 1650 and shortly after was turned into an off-licence, serving the bathhouses that stood opposite. It became a fully-fledged pub in 1760.

Among its punters over the years was someone who dropped an Oliver Cromwell silver shilling dating back to 1658.

It was discovered in May last year after it was sucked up into a hoover and is valued at more than £12,000.

But by the time The Old Cottage featured on Homes Under the Hammer in 2009, the building was "collapsing all on its own".

"If we had left it a few more months, I think the ceilings would have been on the floor and it would have started imploding on itself," Mr Gorton said.

The 67-year-old told how the project has been plagued by delays.

"We had a few problems initially getting space in the car park to empty all the rubbish out of the pub which had accumulated over the years," he said.

"Consequentially we didn’t actually get going until 2014.

"We’ve had a few issues and delays, because I’m paying particular attention to the quality of the work and conserving everything I possibly can."

Another hidden gem discovered during the restoration was an impressive 1650 fireplace, previously concealed behind a wall in the pub's kitchen.

"We have re-pointed it and cleaned the timber work." said Mr Gorton.

"We have left it exactly how it was other than that." he added.

Once open, the pub will have various interesting and original features including "pour your own pint" stations, which customers can access with a digital members card.

Within the basement of the building, is its own brewery.

Named The Margate Brewery, it will supply beer to the pub and other local businesses.

The retired firefighter has designed an innovative system, in which beer will come up from the basement through pipes, to copper tanks above the bar.

Pints will be poured straight from these, meaning the alcohol doesn't mix with air until it hits the glass.

A fifth floor has also been added to the property, giving Mr Gorton and his wife a second home with a sea view.

Ambitious extra features like this and failed planning applications have led to the lengthy time frame, he explained.

"It has turned into a labour of love, so I’m partly to blame for the time it’s taken," the dad-of-four admits.

"But, it hasn’t always been plain sailing - it’s been hard to get everything done.

"Now I just want to get the job finished and get it open."

The kitchen will be on the first floor along with an upstairs restaurant and bar for private functions, and the main pub will be at street level.

There will also be an Airbnb and chefs' living quarters on the second floor.

Mr Gorton said: "Providing there’s no more obstacles along the way and it is purely a case of knuckling down, finishing the practical work and opening the doors - I could probably finish it within two to three months."

The restoration has not been cheap.

Repairs to the collapsing basement alone cost about £155,000, over the initial budget for the whole project.

"It was a bargain to buy," said Mr Gordon.

"But, if I looked at the final figures I could expect on day one - I probably never would have done it.

"It’s worked out to be very very expensive but honestly, if you’re going to do it, you’ve got to do it properly."

Presenter Lucy Alexander was the one to interview the owner at the time of filming, and then returned almost five years later, hoping to show off he finished product.

"I made them promise if they let me do the second film when we weren’t finished, they would come back and do the finale," he said.

"They said 'yes, so long as were still in production'.

"It must be the longest-running Homes Under the Hammer project ever."

Mr Gorton, who's main home is in Sidcup in Bexley, added: "I have to finish it.

"The truth is I have no idea how much I’ve spent on it.

"It’s a work in progress, and if I kept score it would frighten the life out of me.

"I have to keep going - I have to finish it.

"The idea is not to do it within a budget or a sum of money - it’s got to be done because its historic and very special."