The Dirty Habit is one of Kent’s most historic pubs, located in the village of Hollingbourne near Maidstone. The building is believed to date back to the 11th century and has long been associated with pilgrims travelling along the Pilgrims’ Way to Canterbury. The pub occupies a Grade II listed building and has been a well-known landmark in the village for generations.

In October 2022, the pub suffered a devastating fire that caused significant damage to the historic structure. CTP was involved in a major restoration and extension project, providing structural engineering and heritage services. This required sensitive integration of new structural elements while preserving surviving historic fabric and maintaining the building’s heritage value.

The project involved the assessment of the surviving building structure, design of structural alterations to facilitate the proposed refurbishment works, and integration of new structural elements within the existing fabric. Services included structural inspections, feasibility assessments, design of load-bearing modifications, support for new openings and internal reconfiguration.

Architect: Refine Architecture