A family whose north Norfolk coastal pub is likely to end up in the sea in 25-30 years' time is defiantly launching a new business.

The Dancing Men brewery is set to start brewing its first ales this week at the Hill House Inn, on Happisburgh's fast-eroding clifftop.

The new micro-brewery is named in honour of a famous Sherlock Holmes story written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle after he visited the pub in 1903.

Pub owners Clive and Sue Stockton and their partners have bought the business from former brewer Alec 'Alf' Brackenbury who was forced to sell his Bees Brewery when he lost a hand in a factory accident last June.

Mr Brackenbury, whose caravan home is on the seafront at Walcott, suffered a further blow when it was severely damaged, and some of his brewing equipment battered, in the December tidal surge. The equipment has since been repaired or replaced and he will help Hill House produce its first brews in a purpose-made building at the pub.

Sam Stockton, 35, son of Clive and Sue, said they planned to brew everything from a light summer ale to a winter porter.

The beers will be officially launched at Hill House's annual Solstice Beer Festival, from June 19-23.

Following the government's decision a decade ago not to defend the coastline the pub had become un-sellable, said Mr Stockton junior.

'This is our way of fighting back and making the best of a bad situation,' he added.

Mr Stockton senior said he and his wife were both 65 and wanted to take things easier. They would be able to do so shortly when they turned Hill House into a limited company, selling 40pc of the business's equity to two new partners, Adrian Hillier, 50, and Mark Pressman, 38. The four, plus Sam, would be directors of the new company.

Mr Hillier and his wife Julie run the Happisburgh Halt Coffee Shop and Carvery in the grade two-listed pub's former stables.

Galloping erosion last winter had possibly shortened the amount of time left before the pub, originally three 16th-century cottages, went over the cliff, said Mr Stockton senior.

'Realistically, we're now looking at 25-30 years,' he added. 'And it won't just be the pub, it will be Happisburgh Church, and St Mary's, the Arts and Crafts Manor House too'.

? Are you launching a new business? Contact alex.hurrell@archant.co.uk