From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Jade Edwards, 16 August 2016.

Firefighters tackle fire behind the Southern Belle, Gillingham High Street.

Plumes of smoke were spotted across Gillingham after a bonfire spread out of control.

Firefighters were called to Victoria Street at around 5.15pm after the fire spread to a fence, nearby trees and a shed.

Cllr Dan McDonald tweeted video showing smoke billowing out behind the Southern Belle in the High Street.

Firefighters have now left the scene after tackling the blaze for 45 minutes.

Nobody was hurt in the fire.

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Katie May Nelson, local democracy reporter, 7 April 2022.

Southern Belle pub, High Street, Gillingham, to become micropub and flats.

A public house neighbouring a busy railway station is due to be transformed into a micropub.

The Southern Belle in Gillingham High Street will be downsized after councillors approved planning permission.

The floorspace in the business, which sits opposite Gillingham Railway Station, will be scaled down to make way for two neighbouring flats, while the upper floors will host three more.

Due to its proximity to the station, the developers opted to include cycle lockers, but no spaces for cars.

Documents presented to the planning department said the current pub was "unsuitably large and unfit for purpose".

They said: "The proposal for a micropub has been put forward as it provides the area with more opportunity as it is more attractive for new clientele and doing so will reconfigure the pub into a more financially attractive format."

However, a petition was submitted to the council signed by 108 people urging the pub to remain as it is.

The council's planning committee approved the plans during a meeting on Wednesday.

Committee chairman Cllr Diane Chambers (Con) said: "I think it's very welcome that rather than going to a house of multiple occupation, it's coming out of that and people will get better quality of living."