The only pub in a Shropshire village has gone up for sale with a £325,000 price tag – even though the landlords want to stay put.

The Horseshoe Inn at Tilstock, near Whitchurch, has been put up for sale by owners Admiral Taverns – but tenants Ian and Diane Coldrick say they want to remain there.

The pub is being marketed for continued use as licensed premises, owner occupation or redevelopment.

Mr Coldrick, who has run the pub with his wife since 2008, said he was frustrated at the decision by the owners to put it up for sale. He said: “Either a new operator will take it over or we could find some backers as sleeping partners so that we can carry on.

“With the economic climate, the banks told us they aren’t lending to the pub trade when we asked for a mortgage to buy the building.

“There are repairs to do but we haven’t the funds to afford it using the owner’s approved suppliers.

“Really we want to stay and the villagers want us to as well.

“If we go it would be with a heavy heart.

“We’ve enjoyed it here and the villagers are talking about getting up petitions to back us.

“We’re still profitable and have been since we got here. We’ve also raised more than £3,500 for good causes in our time here so we can’t understand it.”

Nobody from Admiral Taverns was available for comment today.

Meanwhile, another pub in a village nearby is set to reopen after suddenly closing last year.

The Dog and Bull at Coton, also near Whitchurch, has been taken over by Craig Hollerin.

He is a former director of marketing and sales working at the exclusive Whistler ski resort in Canada.

In a statement, owners Punch Taverns confirmed the pub had been closed for a few months before Mr Hollerin stepped in.

He said: “I saw the Dog and Bull was on the market and thought it had great potential. It’s a lovely old pub.”

Punch business development manager Derek Shirley said: “Craig has a wealth of experience in hospitality and has already enjoyed success in the pub trade.

We’re delighted to be supporting him.”