The Canterbury UAD states that this inn was previously owned by Mackeson/Whitbread.

The present building is early 19th century. It was mentioned in Bagshaw's Directory in 1847 and in a Directory of 1838 with John Martin as a beer retailer.

Whitbread have informed me that the City Of Canterbury was licensed prior to 1803 when it was bought by Mr Thomas Flint. When sold by Flint's to George Ash in 1849 it was described as an 'Old Established Roadside Public House with a brick built and thatched shop in front'.

The site was a pleasant one, opposite the entry road to the University. In 1971 the inn closed down and the Council granted planning permission to convert the inn into student accommodation. A recent application to re-open it as an inn was rejected.

Wilmot, E., 1988, Inns of Canterbury (Monograph). SKE29737.