A 17th CENTURY village pub has successfully been listed as a community asset.

The Ship Inn in Cockwood will now be registered as an Asset of Community Value under the Community Right to Bid process.

The application was made by Dawlish Town Council to Teignbridge Council after villagers called on the authorities to try to save the historic pub.

Now the pub’s owners have the right to request the district council review its decision which must be made within eight weeks of notification of listing.

The building remains listed as an asset during this period.

The registration means the building is listed due to its value to the community.

More than 90 people attended a public meeting about the future of the pub.

There was ‘overwhelming’ agreement to support further exploration into buying the 17th century pub with the aim of running it as a community pub.

Villagers in nearby Kenton are already in the process of offering shares for a similar scheme for The Dolphin.

Villagers now have to look at plans to buy The Ship and operate it as a community pub and hub.

The cob-built pub suffered extensive damage in the autumn of 2023 when one of the side walls collapsed during Storm Ciaran.

The pub needs significant rebuilding and may be put on the market with a reported guide price of £50,000.

This does not include the costs of rebuilding and substantial repairs.

By registering the pub as a community asset under the Localism Act, the listing lasts for up to five years.

This means if the owner decides to sell, the district council must be notified.

This triggers a six-week moratorium period during which community interest may be registered.

If a community group wishes to bid, a six-month moratorium applies to allow time to prepare a bid.