Time has been called on a community’s efforts to buy its village pub.

The Hook and Hatchet was one of just two buildings open to the public in Hucking until it shut last November, leaving St Margaret’s Church as the only meeting place for residents.

Following the closure around 100 residents clubbed together to try and protect the inn’s future by bringing it under local ownership.

But despite successfully getting it listed as a community asset in March, which gives groups extra time to come up with bids to buy buildings of social importance, the group failed to meet the asking price within their six-month deadline.

They got together nearly £200,000, but it was still shy of Shepherd Neame’s £450,000 asking price.

The Faversham-based brewery had previously said it would be happy to sell to the group, if they could raise the money.

“We would be very disappointed as a community if the pub was sold to a developer who then turned it into a house as we miss it" - Kate Blacker

Now a freehold for the Church Road pub, which set in two acres of land, has been put on the open market. The group fears it could be bought by developers, even though it is being sold for use as a pub.

Campaigner Kate Blacker owns This Art of Mine studio in nearby Little Budds Farm said: “We would be very disappointed as a community if the pub was sold to a developer who then turned it into a house as we miss it.”

But a spokesman for the brewery said it is still available to the community group if they can raise the funds.

Shepherd Neame’s property and services director George Barnes said: “The Hook and Hatchet is an excellent pub, but it has not proven viable under our tenanted model.

“We wish the village action group well, and hope that the pub is a great success as a community project if they are able to purchase it.”