From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By William Janes, 23 October 2018.

Car crashes into wall of The Fox pub.

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kmtv/video

A popular pub has been left badly damaged after a car smashed through the wall.

Patrons at The Fox in Hartnup Street were left shocked after a blue BMW ploughed into the building at around 10.30pm on Friday.

One woman, who was sitting on a bench on the other side of the wall, was taken to hospital to be treated for whiplash but no others were harmed.

Barmaid Marianne Roberts was working behind the bar the moment the car came careering through.

"I just heard this almighty bang and it literally shook the building," she said.

"It almost felt like an earthquake. Just before the bang I saw some lights come quickly round the corner.

"I ran to the door and I could just see that he was in the car at the time and he was dazed. I don't know how the guy survived.

The blue BMW smashed into the corner of the pub's extension.

The car was holding up the building until structural supports were added.

The driver, left dazed in the vehicle, was held by pub-goers for the police to arrive.

"There were a couple of ladies sitting in the corner that got hit. It could have been a lot worse," continued the 39-year-old.

"I went back inside the pub and all I could see was a haze of dust and there was an oily smell.

"I opened some windows, I didn't know if the car was going to go bang."

Landlord Michael Hawney was in good spirits, even making jokes, as the car was finally removed.

Landlord Michael Hawney says although the pub has managed to stay open, the car had to remain in place over the weekend.

"When we had the structural engineer out he said that we would not be able to get the car removed because it was holding up the building."

Repairs are predicted to cost over £100,000.

The car was finally taken away earlier today after temporary structural supports were installed.

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Alan Smith, 13 August 2025.

Lease on the Fox pub in Hartnup Street in Maidstone for sale.

If you’ve ever dreamt of running your own pub, now’s your chance.

The Fox in Maidstone is being offered for sale on a leasehold basis by the freehold owner.

The stone-built, end-of-terrace pub in Hartnup Street has a single bar, seating around 30 to 40, but the potential for a large rear seating area in the garden where there is a brick-built barbecue and wooden decking.

It also comes with four-bedroom manager’s accommodation above, and there is parking for two cars.

It is available on a new free-of-tie lease.

The building is currently closed and no historic trading accounts are available.

The landlord is looking to let it on a 10 or 15-year lease at an annual rent of £30,000 plus VAT and insurance, subject to rent reviews every five years.

The rear garden of The Fox in Maidstone.

The single bar at The Fox in Maidstone.

Under the previous landlord, Michael Hawney, the pub hosted regular music and karaoke nights, and showed football on big screens.

It is on sale through Sidney Phillips, with full details here.

The Fox comes with a premises licence to open between noon and 11pm, Monday to Thursday; noon and midnight, Friday and Saturday, and noon and 11pm on Sunday.