From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Lydia Chantler-Hicks, 8 October 2019.

Abbot's Fireside in Elham near Canterbury for sale as owners retire.

An ancient Kent pub that first opened more than half-a-millenium ago is up for sale.

The Abbot's Fireside in Elham, a quaint village near Canterbury, was built as an inn known as The Smithies Arms in 1451 - and is still operating as an inn and restaurant 568 years later.

Abbot's Fireside in Elham. Pic: Christie & Co. (18830552)

For the last three-and-a-half years it has been run by Eric and Helen Gaskell. But it has now gone on the market, as the couple have announced plans to retire.

The Abbot's Fireside, which offers a range of food and drinks as well as accommodation, has a four-out-of-five rating on Tripadvisor.

Added to throughout Tudor and Stuart times, The High Street business boasts original features including a huge medieval fireplace and leaded glass windows.

It has seven en-suite bedrooms, each of which is named after well-known or local people who are connected to the building's history.

To the rear is a small courtyard garden, while to the front is additional seating and car parking.

The Abbot's Fireside is situated in Elham High Street. Pic: Google Street View (18833248)

James Hughes, senior business agent at Christie & Co which is handling the sale, said: “The Abbot’s Fireside is located in the tranquil village of Elham.

"It is well situated due to its close proximity to the channel ferry crossing and Euro tunnel, meaning they get lots of tourists visiting and staying from overseas.

"It is a great opportunity for a new operator to push this business even further.”

The Abbot’s Fireside is on the market at an asking price of £675,000 for the freehold interest.

From the Kentish Gazette, 10 October 2019.

568-year-old inn on the market.

An ancient pub which first opened almost 600 years ago is up for sale.

The "Abbot’s Fireside" in Elham was built as an inn known as the "Smithies Arms" in 1451 - and is still operating as a pub and restaurant 568 years later. For the last three-and-a-half years it has been run by Eric and Helen Gaskell. But it has now gone on the market, as the couple have announced plans to retire.

The "Abbot’s Fireside, which offers a range of food and drinks as well as accommodation, has seven en-suite bedrooms, each of which is named after well-known or local people who are connected to the building’s history.

To the rear is a small courtyard garden, while to the front is additional seating and car parking.

James Hughes, senior business agent at Christie & Co which is handling the sale, said: "It is a great opportunity for a new operator to push this business even further.”

The "Abbot’s Fireside" is on the market at an asking price of £675,000 for the freehold interest.

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk/ By Gerry Warren, 27 January 2021.

Abbot's Fireside pub in Elham to be reopened by businessman Peter Malkin.

One of Kent's oldest pubs is undergoing a £100,000 refurbishment in readiness for its re-launch.

It follows the purchase of the 15th century Abbot's Fireside in Elham, near Canterbury, by property restoration enthusiast Peter Malkin.

Peter Malkin outside the Abbot's Fireside at Elham where its original name of the Smithies Arms still hangs.

He used to own Bridge Place - now the luxury Pig Hotel at Bridge - where he had lived for 53 years and ran the famous Bridge Country Club.

Yet at the age of 81, he shows no signs of retiring and is again indulging his passion for restoring old buildings and traditional English pubs.

And they don't come much more traditional than the Grade II-listed, beamed Abbot's Fireside, which opened as a tavern in 1451, then called The Smithies Arms, and retains many of its original features including three inglenook fireplaces.

"People say I must be mad to start another project," said Mr Malkin, who lives in Lyminge.

"But I just love old buildings, especially pubs which I hate to see closing down."

Peter Malkin has removed the wood burner to bring back the original inglenook fireplace.

A sign bearing its original name still hangs outside but its name was changed to the Abbot's Fireside in the 1930s.

Mr Malkin, who now lives down the road in Lyminge, seized the opportunity to buy it when it came onto the market last year, having previously been owned and run by Eric and Helen Gaskell.

"I wanted to re-launch Bridge Place as a hotel and restaurant but it was just too big a job," said Mr Malkin, who has been impressed by the new owners' refurbishment and extension of his former home.

"But the Abbot's Fireside is a much more realistic prospect although I am spending up to £100,000 to get it how I want it."

Mr Malkin has restored up to 30 old buildings throughout the county, including Westenhanger Castle and several pubs.

The Abbot's Fireside at Elham.

But despite his love of traditional inns, he says he is not a big drinker but simply enjoys the ambience and social gatherings they offer.

"I've got quite a few ideas and am doing some of the work myself but also bringing in craftsmen.

"I have already enlarged the bar and it will have roaring open fires and cosy sofas.

"I have quite a bit of antique furniture which used to be in Bridge Place and I am creating a lovely patio garden at the rear.

"The pub also has seven lovely en-suite rooms which will be refurbished."

He added: "I will also want to assemble a top notch kitchen and front of house team and have a manager run it for me, although I plan to be around overseeing things."

Mr Malkin hopes to complete the refurbishment by the beginning of April but says the relaunch will depend on when pubs are allowed to re-open.