The Ship Inn, at Surfleet Seas End, closed more than a year ago and has now been granted ACV status following an application to South Holland District Council by the Shipmates community group.
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The status means the community must be given time to prepare a bid if the owners decide to sell the pub.
The group said there had been a pub on the site since 1642 and is now calling for more local people to get involved in the campaign.
Community bid
Shipmates chairman Mark Newlands said: “The Ship Inn will now remain an Asset of Community Value for five years and it is possible that any future planning application to change it from a pub to a dwelling or some other use could be denied because of this.
“This is an important first step towards getting our pub back. What happens now is the owner cannot sell it without first giving the community six months to prepare and submit a bid.
“We have until September 3 to declare our intention to bid and until January 23, 2027, to submit the bid.”
The group will hold an information meeting at the Fraser Rooms at St Laurence Church, Surfleet, at 7pm on Wednesday 12 August.
Organisers said the meeting would give residents the chance to discuss how they would like to see the pub developed, register expressions of interest and hear ideas from a recent community survey.
Newlands added: “We also want to share the good ideas revealed by a recent survey we organised.
“We will also be discussing the work ahead and the type of society we want to own and run the pub.”
Pub rescue efforts
The campaign comes amid continued focus on community pub ownership and local efforts to save closed village pubs.
Last month, the Somerset Arms in Semington passed £200,000 in pledges after Prince William made a personal donation and wrote to organisers backing the pub rescue mission.
Last year, thousands signed a petition to save the 300-year-old Black Horse pub in Chipping Barnet, also an ACV.
- Find out more about how to save the Ship Inn, here.
