A landlord has been stabbed to death in his own Kent pub as detectives arrested a woman in her 50s at the scene.
Matthew Bryant, who had run the Hare and Hounds in Maidstone for the last eight years, was pronounced dead shortly before 6pm on Monday.
The woman, who was known to the victim, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder and remains in custody, police said in a statement.
A large police cordon was set up the pub on Tuesday morning as tributes poured in for the popular landlord who had been a publican for 25 years.
Local resident Chris Leach told the Mirror Mr Bryant “hadn’t got a bad bone in his body.”
He added: “You couldn’t help but love him.”
Mark Osborne said: “All my thoughts go out to all his family and friends. Heaven has got a true angel.” Another local Daniel Hoggart described Mr Bryant as an “absolute gent.”
A Kent Police spokeswoman said: “Officers have arrested a woman on suspicion of a murder in Maidstone.
“Police was called to Lower Boxley Road at 6pm on Monday and patrols attended along with South East Coast Ambulance Service. A man was treated for injuries consistent with stab wounds and was confirmed deceased at the scene shortly after.
“His next of kin have been informed. An investigation by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate was commenced and a woman in her 50s was arrested and taken into custody.”
She added: “It is understood the suspect and the victim were known to each other. A cordon remains in place at the scene while enquiries are completed into the circumstances surrounding the incident.”
