Villagers are not the only people looking to buy and reopen their pub in Irthington, near Brampton.

A community group aiming to buy the Salutation Inn has come up against at least one other party which aims to reopen and run the bar.

The agents, Manchester-based Lambert Smith Hampton, are now looking for sealed bids by today.

The pub closed its doors in May 2015 but there has been a community effort to buy the pub, with people pledging cash.

Now it has emerged business partners Jimmy Little and Shaun Gardner, who have run The Brewery House, at High Harrington, Workington, since 2010, are also keen to become the pub’s new owners.

It’s understood there could also be two other bidders.

Jimmy and Shaun took on The Brewery House in 2010.

Two years later they became its owners and continued to build up the business.

Jimmy, who grew up in Hethersgill and started in the industry as a pot washer at the Salutation Inn, aged 12, said they are now in a position to take on a new venture, having recently sold The Brewery House.

“We intend to expand as much as we possibly can to look at other revenues.

“First and foremost it’s going to be a pub but we are looking at bedrooms as well. You’ve got to look at all income streams nowadays,” said Jimmy, 40.

The pair, who have a wealth of experience between them, including training others, said it is vital to keep village pubs open.

Jimmy said: “I personally think there’s a gap there for village pubs and it keeps the whole social side going.

“A big part of it is, at the end of the day, a pub will never survive on alcohol nowadays. Even the town centres don’t survive on just alcohol so you have to look at the wider picture.

“They are very important but it’s about working hard and looking at every aspect of the business to see what income streams you can get from it.”

He and Shaun would be looking to invest about £100,000 in refurbishing the pub and are considering putting in computer stations and helping people in other ways by creating a “hub”.

The pair wish the community group all the best and said, if they are unsuccessful, they would be happy to become advisors for the committee, though they could not take on the lease of the property as tenants.

Jimmy added: “From our point of view if the community get it there’s no hard feelings at the end of the day.

“This is our livelihood. It’s what we do but I understand their thoughts behind what they’re trying to do and I think it’s good and I wish them all the best.”

Emma Skelton, of Irthington Country Pub’s steering committee, said: “Being an asset of community value gives us no priority as it is being sold by the receivers.

“It is our understanding that there are more than two bidders. The intentions of the others is unknown.

“Our aim continues to be to ensure that a good pub serving good food and an interesting selection of drinks in an environment that is welcoming to locals and visitors alike sits at the heart of the parish.

“Our fervent wish is that in a week or so this will be one step closer, no matter who buys it.”

Irthington Country Pubs Ltd has been working towards purchasing the pub since April and has already received pledges of more than £80,000 towards buying it. The group extended its share offer deadline until yesterday.