Residents hoping to buy a much-loved village pub for their community have received national backing.

CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale), the pub industry campaigning group, is supporting the residents of Dentdale who are hoping to buy the ancient The Sun Inn.

The Sun, dating back to 1523, is up for sale and, at a public meeting held in the hostelry, 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.

“Community-saved pubs are great assets to any community – offering a unique community spirit to a town, village or area.”

The Westmorland Gazette: The Sun is a valued part of Dent's conservation areaThe Sun is a valued part of Dent's conservation area (Image: Tony Durrant)

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, all of which preserve its historic roots and attract more visitors looking to experience a taste of the past.

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, preserving it for more centuries to come.
 
Anyone interested in more information should email saveoursun2024@gmail.com or visit www.dentcommunitypub.co.uk.