A historic pub left empty for 18 months has been sold, but not to a brewery.

The Fox and Goose, along the A2 in Bapchild near Sittingbourne, was put on the market after its landlady left last year.

In August 2022 Rebecca Baker explained she made the tough decision to call time on her stewardship of the pub following the death of her father, as well as the impact the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis had had on her business.

She’d served customers at the watering hole, which dates back to the 17th century, for eight years.

However, she told KentOnline that the change of her lease at the property and a lack of trade meant it “wasn’t feasible” to continue.

Through the first lockdown, Rebecca and her family continued selling their much-loved roast dinners, delivering them to customers thanks to help from locals James Mohammed and Pat Ruanne.

They also took food to Medway Hospital, ambulance stations, Sittingbourne Fire Station, nurses, carers, support workers and elderly and vulnerable people across the area, from Faversham to Medway.

But sadly, not long after the pandemic hit, the grandmother-of-three lost her dad to cancer.

That, combined with increasing costs, rent prices and utility bills meant Rebecca made the tough decision to close the pub in May 2022.

The Fox and Goose was originally marketed by the Stonegate brewery for a yearly rent of £18,000, with an estimated £8,500 start-up cost.

However, it was later put up for sale by Fleurets, a leisure property specialist, for £445,000.

It has been sold subject to contract, meaning an offer has been made and accepted.

A pub has been on the site since the 1670s and includes a three-bedroom flat above the bar.

The listing describes the property as a detached unlisted village public house with a prominent main road location along the A2.

It says the building is suitable for alternative uses subject to planning permission being approved by Swale council.

There are currently no applications regarding the Fox and Goose pub on the local authority’s planning portal.

However, Rebecca previously explained a kebab shop owner had viewed the property and said the brewery had told her Sainsbury's had also shown interest.

But, at the time, a spokesman for Sainsbury's said it had not announced anything regarding plans for a new store at the site.

A spokesperson for Stonegate Pub Partners said: “The former Fox and Goose pub has been sold by Stonegate Group.

“The completion of the sale of the freehold is due to take place at the end of November.

“The site will no longer belong to Stonegate Group once the sale has been finalised so we cannot comment of the future plans of the site.”

Although Fleurets was unable to comment on the buyer, a spokesman confirmed it was not a brewery but stressed the building remained a pub.