A 17th-century pub which has been sold could become a drive-through with up to 30 parking spaces.

The Cherry Tree Inn in Crawley Road in Faygate was being sold by Savills with a guide price of £300,000 or more.

It had also been earmarked for a property auction but was sold before it went under the hammer.

The pub is on a 0.74 acre plot which also has a garden and car parks.

It has a prime roadside location on the A264 between Crawley and Horsham.

The site now has planning consent for a hot food takeaway or drive-through with up to 30 parking spaces.

 “It will be interesting to see what the future holds for this property,” said senior auction appraiser Mike Marchant.

“We considered that while potential undoubtedly exists for the Cherry Tree Inn to re-open as a public house, planning consent has been granted for alternative use to re-purpose the buildings and take the pub on to the next stage of its useful life.

“The planning consent that has been obtained will allow for extension of the existing building to provide a hot food takeaway, drive through or restaurant with 30 car parking spaces, a scheme which is considered ideal for the location.”