A share-offer to save a village pub in Great Bromley will be launched next week.

As part of the campaign, the Cross Inn, will re-opening temporarily for the launch weekend.

The 200-year-old pub has faced closure since early last year when previous owners announced plans to build houses on the site in Ardleigh Road.

But so upset at the loss of their favourite watering hole, villagers from Great Bromley and Ardleigh launched the Save the Bromley Cross campaign to save the pub, which closed last May, and run it for the community.

Fundraising events have been staged, a village co-operative has been formed, and the pub’s new owner- east Anglia property developer John Howard- agreeing to sell it to them for £210,000.

Owen Blowers, chair of Save the Bromley Cross said: “It sounds like a lot of money but a number of residents have already pledged significant money, so we are very optimistic of reaching target."

"If we miss this opportunity then I think the pub will be lost forever. It used to be the heart of our community, since it was home to our village post office too,” he said.

Next Friday (7th) at 5pm, the doors will re-open for the sale, which seeks investors who can buy shares in their Community Benefit Society, a not-for-profit co-operative, which will buy the pub and run it for the community.

The Minimum investment is £250, and investors will be able to claim at least 30 per cent tax relief, assuming they have paid enough tax and keep their shares for three years. After that, the shares will attract a small interest payment, when profits allow.

The system will be similar to that taken by previous campaigns to save pubs including the Case is Altered at Bentley and the Maybush in Great Oakley, with them both becoming community-owned pubs.

Jim Craddock, campaign secretary of Save the Bromley Cross, has been organising the launch night, plus the pub’s re-opening over next weekend.

“We’ve got everything we need to open for the Saturday night and Sunday lunchtime and run it like a normal pub, but with a difference- we’ll be selling shares in the pub as well as pints The Gazette has been following our story for the last 18 months, and we spoke soon after our community offer to buy the pub was agreed. Well we're now ready to launch out share scheme.

“We'll also be unveiling our giant pint-glass share-o-meter, which, a bit like the old Blue Peter Christmas Appeals, will fill up as investors help us reach our target,” he said.

Details of the campaign can also be found at http://www.greatbromleycross.org.uk or on Facebook.