I bought Homes Under the Hammer’s longest-ever project – it’s finally finished after 16 YEARS and spending over £500k

A MAN who snapped up a Homes Under the Hammer property without even stepping inside has forked out £500,000 in the show’s longest ever project.

But the 17th-century pub which was once an absolute wreck, could finally reopen this year.

Facebook

The project dubbed the longest Homes Under the Hammer project ever could finally reopen by summer[/caption]

Facebook

The Ex-fireman spent £500,000 on the renovation but he has found a trove of historical treasures along the way[/caption]

Facebook

Having taken over the site 16 years ago in 2009, David had expected to reopen it within a couple of years[/caption]

David Gorton bought The Old Cottage Pub, in Margate, at auction for £90,000 on his credit card after spotting an advert on his computer.

Having taken over the site 16 years ago in 2009, David had expected to reopen it within a couple of years.

But the ex-fireman, 69, has been renovating his pub which he renamed Gorton’s in honour of his late father Bob Gorton, ever since.

A Victorian archway in the cellar collapsed causing David huge planning issues and he now claims it must be Homes under the Hammer’s longest running project.

“It cost me £155,000 for a block and beam system and I totally replaced the roof of the cellar and made it 100 per cent safe,” explained David.

David also discovered a hoard of historical artefacts, including a stash of silver tableware stuffed up the chimney and a filled-in smugglers tunnel leading up to the nearby church as they worked on the restoration.

However, speaking to KentOnline, David said they were finally reaching the end of the project with just one more planning application for signage to be approved.

“We do expect to be open later on this year now, hopefully in the summertime,” explained David.

“Obviously we don’t want to open without proper signage so we need to get that sorted out.

“We’ve got all the main applications we need all passed and approved, this is just for business signs as it’s a listed building.”

The newly renovated pub is set to include its own brewery in the basement, an upstairs restaurant and some Airbnb rooms.

Originally built as a home in 1650 it didn’t become a proper pub until 1760.

He previously told KentOnline: “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.

“If I looked at the final figures I could expect on day one – I probably never would have done it.

“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.

“The idea is not to do it within a budget or a sum of money – it’s got to be done because it’s historic and very special.”

David’s interest in pubs was sparked after he suffered an injury as a fireman in the late 1990s.

He began inspecting West End pubs and restaurants’ liquor certification and learned how the business operated.

When he retired a few years later in 1998, he bought a buy-to-let property in Sidcup for £50,000, which is now worth around £250,000.

He then snapped up another property in the same block a year later, and by November 2010, he had bought all nine properties in the building.

This money offered him the chance to buy The Old Cottage Pub and carry out extensive renovations – which have cost him approximately £500,000.

SWNS

David outside The Old Cottage Pub. which could finally reopen by summer[/caption]