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A 17th-century pub which was once decaying into ruins could finally reopen this year – 18 years after it closed.
The Old Cottage Pub on Margate's High Street was serving pints up until 2007 when the doors closed and the listed building was left in a sorry state.
Having taken over the site 16 years ago in 2009, David Gorton had hoped to reopen it within a couple of years – originally aiming for the same date as the Turner Contemporary back in April 2011.
Instead, planning delays and his own ambitious vision for the tavern saw it become the “longest-running Homes Under the Hammer project ever”.
He bought it for a “bargain” £90,000 on an episode of the long-running BBC show.
Speaking to KentOnline, the 69-year-old landlord said they were finally “nearing the end” with just one more planning application for signage to be approved.
It has left him dreaming of seeing the grand reopening take place within a matter of months.
“We do expect to be open later on this year now, hopefully in the summertime,” said the retired firefighter.
“Obviously we don't want to open without proper signage so we need to get that sorted out.
“We've got all the main applications we need all passed and approved, this is just for business signs as it’s a listed building.”
Opening this year would be a welcome change in fortunes for David following his near-death experience outside the High Street property earlier this month when he fell into an open utility trench surrounded by live cables.
When it finally reopens, the pub will include features such as its own brewery in the basement, an upstairs restaurant and Airbnb rooms.
The Grade II-listed property was built as a home in 1650 and shortly after was turned into an off-licence, serving the bathhouses that stood opposite. It became a fully-fledged pub in 1760.
But by the time The Old Cottage featured on Homes Under the Hammer in 2009, the building was "collapsing all on its own".
"If we had left it a few more months, I think the ceilings would have been on the floor and it would have started imploding on itself," Mr Gorton said.
It took five years for work to even begin thanks to issues securing space in a neighbouring car park to clear out the rubbish and debris from the building.
The restoration has not been cheap, just fixing the collapsing basement cost £155,000 – well above the initial budget for the entire plan.
David now says he is not entirely sure how much he has spent on it but is determined to see it through.
He previously told KentOnline: "We’ve had a few issues and delays because I’m paying particular attention to the quality of the work and conserving everything I possibly can.
“If I looked at the final figures I could expect on day one - I probably never would have done it.
"It’s worked out to be very, very expensive but honestly, if you’re going to do it, you’ve got to do it properly.
"The idea is not to do it within a budget or a sum of money - it’s got to be done because it’s historic and very special."