Fancy owning a share of a pub? Campaign calls on people to sign up to help save Seaham's Times Inn

A grassroots campaign has been launched in a bid to take on the 400-year-old Times Inn in Dalton-le-Dale, which lies on the outskirts of Seaham.

It has been advertised as for sale from June last year and was closed by Punch Taverns in October, with locals told it was not a viable business, even though they say it still had a firm following.

Now a group of its loyal regulars and residents have teamed up to form The Times Inn Community Society with the aim of raising the cash to buy the property – which is still on the market – with a target of £180,000 set.

The nine members of the group so far have looked at winning the support of the Plunkett Foundation with the aim of gaining £150,000 in backing.

But it is hoped Seaham spirit will really get behind the call, with a plan to sell shares in the venture as the community pledges own cash in exchange for a say in the venue's future.

A meeting will be held this Saturday, February 29, at St Andrew’s Church in Dalton-le-Dale from 2pm to 4pm to gather interested parties.

Kelly Monahan, who lives in Dalton Heights, is one of those to get involved so far.

She said: “It would be really sad if after 400 years of history that we know of it was just gone and was knocked down to make way for flats to make someone a profit.

“We’ve seen what they have done with the Ye Olde Cross in Ryton and they have all sorts there, they run groups, people hold demonstrations, and we’ve looked at that and think it’s fantastic.

“We really want people to come along on Saturday because this isn’t just for the nine of us, it’s for everybody, and we want them to come along with their ideas.

“We want it to be available for people to use, have a room as a cafe during the day, somewhere people can come together and meet.”

The pub was built in 1820 by blacksmith Thomas Linton as a newly constructed road took travellers through the village, while he worked from the neighbouring cottages, now called Dalton Cottages.

In addition to setting up the pub – then known as The Lord Nelson following the 1805 victory at the Battle of Trafalgar – he also ceased on the chance to make the most of the passing traffic, buying Colpitt’s Farm to set up change horses for the coaches.

The bar was later renamed, with the bar giving its name locally to the Times Inn Bank, a section of the B1285 Stockton Road, with a beer garden and car park for 15 cars at the back.

Research has shown there is a cellar below linked to earlier building on the site dating back to the 16th century and it is hoped that should the group get the keys, they can look at making the most of the whole space.

Further details on the campaign can be found via www.timesinn.co.uk.