Historic and treasured Chequers pub in Loose up for sale for £1,365,000

If Johnny Depp’s still looking for a Kent pub, he could do worse than The historic Chequers pub in Loose.

Last month it was reported the Pirates of the Caribbean star had shown interest in The Chequers Inn, in Smarden – up for sale for £1million – but for just a few hundred thousand pounds more he could snap up a watering-hole closer to one of his Kent-based friends.

Agents Savills say the Grade II listed pub is up for an asking price of £1,365,000, and it’s anticipated it will be sold as a going concern, with the current lease set to expire in 2036.

Dating back to the 17th Century and situated next to Loose Stream, the Chequers has been central to Loose life for more than three hundred years, and has been a favourite of internationally renowned artist Ralph Steadman – a friend of Johnny Depp.

Best known for his work with American writer Hunter S Thompson, Steadman rose to fame after collaborating on works such as Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, later made into a film by Terry Gilliam, starring Depp – and the actor and artist have since forged a close friendship.

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Both Hunter S Thompson and Depp have visited their friend in Loose, the former even visiting the Chequers for a drink, while Steadman more recently celebrated his 80th birthday at the Chequers in 2016. So could Captain Jack Sparrow be singing “Drink up me hearties, yo ho!” at the bar of The Chequers any time soon?

Savills say the pub is offered as a “freehold public house investment” and that the entire property is let to an individual operator, with a current yearly rent of £101,084.

They say the rent is subject to five yearly open market rent reviews and annual uncapped RPI increases, and that the business is unaffected by sale.

Timber-framed and weatherboarded, the pub has three storeys with painted brick elevations beneath a pitched and hipped roof.

The ground floor houses an open plan bar and separate dining area to the rear, with a central bar servery and seating for 70 customers.

The upper floors house manager’s acomodation, while outside the pub has a patio and garden with seating for 150 customers, and a garage building containing the beer cellar.

The entire property is let to The Tall Guy Limited on a 20 year lease from October 21 2016 at a current rent of £101,084 per annum which is subject to five yearly open market reviews and annual uncapped RPI increases. A rent deposit of £24,117 and a repair and maintenance fund of £1,153.34 is held by the landlord.

Savills add that all viewings must be made by prior appointment and no direct approach should be made to any of the occupational tenants’ staff.