The landlords of a landmark Kent pub say they are leaving due to spiralling running costs.

Kelly Tompkins, who runs the Dover Castle pub in Teynham, near Sittingbourne, confirmed she and her partner Stuart George will giving up the Shepherd Neame watering hole and focussing on running the bar at the Tudor Rose in Borden full-time.

The pair took over the Dover Castle in 2017.

However, over the last few weeks Facebook users have been questioning whether the pub is open or if it was closing for good.

Clearing up the rumours, Kelly said: "We have had to close a couple of days a week at the minute.

"We've been closed Mondays and Tuesdays for a while and people keep putting the wrong information on Facebook.

"But the part about us leaving the Dover Castle is true.

"We are leaving the Dover Castle as the overheads are far too high for us."

Kelly explained they gave Shepherd Neame notice before deciding to return to a pub they'd managed previously, the Tudor Rose.

The duo ran the historic inn, in Chestnut Street near the A249 and Key Street roundabout, from 2011 to 2021.

However, in October last year it was announced they'd be returning, and running the two pubs at the same time.

The pub dates back to 1750.

Kelly added: "We're going to be staying at the Tudor Rose and the brewery are going to be running the Dover Castle themselves so it will be managed not tenanted.

"We are leaving the Dover Castle on March 15, as far as I know Shepherd Neame will open it up straight after that."

Shepherd Neame’s managing director, Jonathon Swaine said: “We would like to thank Stuart and Kelly for their hard work at the Dover Castle in Teynham during the past six years, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with them as they continue to run the Tudor Rose in Borden.

"We can confirm that the Dover Castle is being moved to our managed estate, and the pub will be closed for a week from March 15 while we undertake refurbishment work.

"We have appointed a new team to oversee this characterful village pub, which will be open every day, with an exciting new menu and drinks offer in place. We look forward to welcoming customers old and new.”