A beloved western-themed pub has closed its doors for the final time.

The Dancing Dog Saloon in Sheppey Way, between Bobbing and Iwade, near Sittingbourne, has announced its closure following the industry's rising costs.

Landlord of 20 years, and owner of the watering hole, Shaun Egan, said: "Our last straw was the pandemic.

"We were putting our own money into the establishment way before that, but with rising costs we decided that we just couldn't go on."

The pub was originally opened by the 65-year-old in 2002. Shaun announced the pubs immediate closure on Facebook this week.

He added: "We're very sad that we had to close and we're not happy about it but the saloon was no longer financially viable.

"Hopefully something new will take its place."

Over the last two decades, the Dancing Dog Saloon has become a meeting point for villagers and visitors from further afield.

Steve Roalf, a 65-year-old from Bobbing, spoke of the fond memories he made at his local.

He said: "Because the saloon was originally a country and western pub, Shaun filled it with all his western memorabilia, artefacts and pictures.

"There was even a wagon wheel with spurs on it hanging from the ceiling!

"Shaun put on loads of concerts and fairly well-known, international country singers would perform there, so the pub was filled with locals and visitors.

"The regulars were also a mix between amateur and professional musicians, so they also performed.

"The saloon was always friendly, no matter what regulars were there – it was our community.

"We'd just like to thank Shaun for all his hard work on trying to keep the pub going.

"They did an awful lot to help it, but when their competition was supermarket prices there wasn't a lot more they could do.

The bar was also featured on the big screen after it was used for a movie shoot.

It was transformed for an upcoming feature film by production company Reel Entertainment, for a film called Life and Times of Holly Turner.

Actor Jeffrey Stewart, best-known for his role as PC Reg Hollis in the ITV drama The Bill, played the role of Jack Sweeney, a farmer and close friend of Holly’s father, Bill Turner.

However, it wasn't all good news throughout the pub's history.

In 2015, the outside of the saloon was damaged after a car smashed into the building.

An elderly woman was sitting behind the door just moments before a car ploughed through it.