A village’s only pub has been granted a special protection order in a bid to keep it out of the hands of housing developers.

The 18th century Plough Inn in Ripple, near Deal, has been made an asset of community value by Dover District Council (DDC).

It means if the current owners decide to sell up, villagers will be given six months to submit a bid and raise the cash to buy the pub before it goes on the open market.

While there is no suggestion bosses are looking to sell, Ripple Parish Council applied for the special status to protect the 298-year-old pub's future.

Chairman Keith Morrison says its decision was sparked by widespread pub closures and a desire to ensure the Plough is not lost to property developers.

“The pub now cannot be sold without the parish council being informed and having the opportunity to work with the whole village to try and keep our pub open,” he said.

“It has been here since 1725 and has been used by generations of locals and visitors alike.

“The application to DDC was successful, offering protection to the pub until 2028.”

Mr Morrison says the parish council nominated the Plough Inn to recognise the core role the pub plays in village life.

“Ripple is the second smallest village in Kent by population and has few facilities for the community benefit,” he said.

“The parish council was keen to ensure that if and when the pub was ever placed for sale on the open market the community would have an opportunity to secure its future as a pub, representing the importance of the facility to our village life.”

In the application, the parish council highlighted how food at the Plough is rated excellent on Trip Advisor, adding the venue received an award this year for best winter pub in the area from the local CAMRA group.

“The pub is the heart of the village for many people,” it said.

“If this were to cease to become a pub, there would be a danger that many would be more isolated. The nearest social venues are all outside of the village by some way and can only be accessed by car or bike as buses are so infrequent.

“This pub is an integral part of village life and adds greatly to the villager's sense of wellbeing and of being part of a community.”

A spokesperson for DDC says the pub’s new status means the owners must notify the council if they want to sell up, with community groups given six weeks to register an interest in taking on the site.

“If a written intention to bid is received within the six weeks, the group will be given six months to raise the finance and prepare a bid to purchase the asset before it goes on the open market,” they added.

“The sale itself will take place under normal market conditions, and while the community group will be given an opportunity to submit a bid the owner is not bound to accept it.”

The Plough was built in 1725 and was first registered as a beer retailer and grocer in 1811.

Parts of the building are original and the pub has traded continually since 1811.

Attempts were made to contact the owners for comment on the community asset status.