A pub dubbed the 'longest Homes Under the Hammer project ever' could finally reopen by summer after a painstaking 14-year restoration project. <br /><br />The 370-year-old inn, which was once decaying into ruins, could soon be back open for business. <br /><br />The Old Cottage Pub in Margate, Kent, was serving pints up until 2007 when the doors closed and the building was left in a sorry state.<br /><br />Two years later, David Gorton snapped it up for a "bargain" £90,000 on an episode of Homes Under the Hammer.<br /><br />He had initially planned to have the pub back open in April 2011.<br /><br />But with delays caused by planning issues as well as his own ambitious vision, the work is STILL on going.<br /><br />Speaking from the 17th Century building, Mr Gorton said: "It must be the longest-running Homes Under the Hammer project ever."<br /><br />The restoration has not been cheap. He said repairs to the collapsing basement alone cost about £155,000 over the initial budget for the whole project.<br /><br />Mr Gorton said: "It was a bargain to buy.<br /><br />"But if I looked at the final figures I could expect on day one - I probably never would have done it.<br /><br />"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."<br /><br />The property's new look will include features such as its own brewery in the basement, an upstairs restaurant and Airbnb rooms.<br /><br />The Grade II-listed property was built as a home in 1650. Shortly after it was turned into an off-licence, serving the bathhouses that stood opposite. In 1760 it became a fully-fledged pub.<br /><br />Among its punters over the years was someone who dropped an Oliver Cromwell silver shilling dating back to 1658.<br /><br />The coin was discovered in May last year after it was sucked up into a hoover. It is valued at more than £12,000.<br /><br />By the time The Old Cottage featured on Homes Under the Hammer in 2009, the building was "collapsing all on its own".<br /><br />Mr Gorton said: "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.<br /><br />"We had a few problems initially getting space in the car park to empty all the rubbish out of the pub which had accumulated over the years.<br /><br />"Consequentially we didn’t actually get going until 2014.<br /><br />"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."<br /><br />Another hidden gem discovered during the restoration was an impressive 1650 fireplace, previously concealed behind a wall in the pub's kitchen.<br /><br />The 67-year-old added: "We have re-painted it and cleaned the timber work.<br /><br />"We have left it exactly how it was other than that." <br /><br />Once open, the pub will have various interesting and original features including "pour your own pint" stations, which customers can access with a digital members card.<br /><br />The brewery in the basement will be named The Margate Brewery, supplying beer to the pub and other local businesses.
