A pub dubbed the 'longest Homes Under the Hammer project ever' could finally reopen by summer after a painstaking 14-year restoration project.

The 370-year-old inn, which was once decaying into ruins, could soon be back open for business.

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.

Two years later, David Gorton snapped it up for a "bargain" £90,000 on an episode of Homes Under the Hammer."

He had initially planned to have the pub back open in April 2011.

But with delays caused by planning issues as well as his own ambitious vision, the work is STILL on going.

Speaking from the 17th Century building, Mr Gorton said: "It must be the longest-running Homes Under the Hammer project ever."

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.

Mr Gorton said: "It was a bargain to buy."

"But 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 property's new look will include features such as its own brewery in the basement, an upstairs restaurant and Airbnb rooms.

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.

Among its punters over the years was someone who dropped an Oliver Cromwell silver shilling dating back to 1658.

The coin was discovered in May last year after it was sucked up into a hoover. It is valued at more than £12,000.

By the time The Old Cottage featured on Homes Under the Hammer in 2009, the building was "collapsing all on its own"."

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."

"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."

"Consequentially we didn’t actually get going until 2014."

"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."

Another hidden gem discovered during the restoration was an impressive 1650 fireplace, previously concealed behind a wall in the pub's kitchen.

The 67-year-old added: "We have re-painted it and cleaned the timber work."

"We have left it exactly how it was other than that." "

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."

The brewery in the basement will be named The Margate Brewery, supplying beer to the pub and other local businesses.

The retired firefighter has designed an innovative system, in which beer will come up from the basement through pipes and into copper tanks above the bar.

Pints will be poured straight from these, meaning the alcohol doesn’t mix with air until it hits the glass.

A fifth floor has also been added to the property, giving Mr Gorton and his wife a second home with a sea view.

Ambitious extra features like this and failed planning applications have led to the lengthy time frame.

The dad-of-four said: "It has turned into a labour of love, so I’m partly to blame for the time it’s taken."

"But, it hasn’t always been plain sailing - it’s been hard to get everything done."

"Now I just want to get the job finished and get it open."

The kitchen will be on the first floor along with an upstairs restaurant and bar for private functions, and the main pub will be at street level.

There will also be an Airbnb and chefs' living quarters on the second floor.

Mr Gorton said: "Providing there’s no more obstacles along the way and it is purely a case of knuckling down, finishing the practical work and opening the doors - I could probably finish it within two to three months."

Former Homes Under The Hammer presenter Lucy Alexander interviewed the owner at the time of filming.

She returned almost five years later, hoping to show off he finished product.

Mr Gorton said: "I made them promise if they let me do the second film when we weren’t finished, they would come back and do the finale."

"They said 'yes, so long as were still in production'."

"It must be the longest-running Homes Under the Hammer project ever."

Mr Gorton, who's main home is in Sidcup, Kent, added: "I have to finish it."

"The truth is I have no idea how much I’ve spent on it."

"It’s a work in progress, and if I kept score it would frighten the life out of me."

"I have to keep going - I have to finish it."

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