Villagers campaigning to save Crown and Anchor at St Germans

The Crown and Anchor in St Germans, on the banks of the Great Ouse, closed in October.

Its owner Admiral Taverns has put the 17th century watering hole up for sale for £235,000.

A steering group has applied to register the pub on Lynn Road, next to the bridge across the tidal river, as an asset of community value (ACV).

A steering committee hopes to raise the money to buy the Crown and Anchor at St Germans, near King's Lynn (Image: Chris Bishop)

Becoming an ACV protects the site from development and also puts its sale on hold for six months, to give the community the opportunity to buy it.

Steering group chair Steve Welcomme, a solicitor who lives a stone's throw from the pub, said: "It's early days but we're going great guns, the community response has been amazing."

Mr Welcomme said the pub's owners, Admiral Taverns, had granted a short-term tenancy, which could play into the group's hands.

He added: "That suits us because we can buy it as a going concern, save some tax and we can also have a drink in the meantime."

The Crown and Anchor stands next to the River Ouse at St Germans (Image: Chris Bishop)

David Harrison, treasurer of the steering group, said: "I can't see it being easy but I do think we stand a sporting chance."

A spokesman for owners Admiral Taverns said: "We are aware of the asset of community value nomination and are in discussions with the local community about the pub's long term future.

"In the meantime, we are pleased to welcome a new licensee on a short term basis to ensure it can reopen in time for the community to enjoy throughout the festive period."

A new tenant hopes to reopen the Crown and Anchor in time for Christmas (Image: Chris Bishop)

The Crown and Anchor, parts of which date back to the 14th century, was once one of four pubs in the village.

The Black Horse closed in 1966, the Chequers pulled its last pint in 1968 and the Three Tuns called time in 1981.

Mr Welcomme said a community benefit society was being formed to buy the Crown and Anchor, which would be run as a community centre and cafe as well as a pub.

Villagers hope to raise the money to buy the Crown and Anchor at St Germans (Image: Chris Bishop)

Similar groups have successfully bought a number of pubs to preserve them for their communities.

They include the King's Arms, at Shouldham and  Blue Bell in Stoke Ferry.