A centuries-old rural pub is up for sale.

The Star Inn at St Mary in the Marsh on Romney Marsh is to go under the hammer at auction next month with a freehold guide price of £400-450,000.

It was first registered as an ale house in 1711 and in 1732 it was named The Star.

In later years the hostelry had literary links, with authors living and working nearby.

The building consists of a ground floor with bar area, restaurant and kitchen. Above are two further floors with private accommodation and an office.

Externally there are gardens to the front and side, with private garden to the rear and a car park.

Chris Milne, an appraiser at auctioneers Clive Emson, said: "This is a wonderful, historic pub in a rural location.

"It also has literary connections with Noel Coward renting the Star Inn cottage while looking for a home to buy.

"While there he met Edith Nesbitt who wrote The Railway Children and who lived nearby and is buried in the churchyard opposite. It is thought that Coward wrote his first successful play while staying in the cottage.

"Inside along with the bar, restaurant and kitchen are cellars, toilets, plus a one-bedroom manager’s flat with another bedroom on the second floor.

"It has gardens at the front and side, car park and outbuilding."

The property, which will be for sale on December 14, dates from the late 15th century when it was a thatched farm building.