Residents hoping to buy a much-loved village pub for their community are being backed by CAMRA.
The pub industry campaigning group is supporting Dent villagers who are hoping to buy the ancient The Sun Inn.
The Sun Inn, first recorded in 1523, is up for sale and at a public meeting held in the hostelry in the village near Kirkby Lonsdale, residents voted to attempt to secure it as a community pub.
CAMRA chairman Nik Antona said: “CAMRA fully supports the residents of Dentdale in their efforts to save their beloved Sun Inn and in their mission turn it into a community run pub.”
The villagers have set up a working group and plan on raising money through a share offer as well as applying for a grant from the Government’s Community Ownership Fund.
Working group chairman Andrew Povey said: “The Sun has a special place in our community and is too valuable a community asset to lose which is why we are launching this attempt to buy it.”
The Sun, which is an attraction for visitors to Dent, sits at the centre of the scenic village’s designated conservation area, which has a cobbled main street. The pub has wooden beams, a real fire, and a mounting block for horses outside.
The residents are forming a Community Benefit Society in which members of the public will be invited to invest.
With this investment, and a successful bid to the Community Ownership Fund, they hope to buy the pub.
Mr Antona added: “Community-saved pubs are great assets to any community – offering a unique community spirit to a town, village or area.”
Anyone interested in more information should email [email protected] or visit www.dentcommunitypub.co.uk.
