Much-loved Telford pub is put on the market for £375,000

The pub has been kept by John Ellis since 2012, who also runs the Crown Inn in Oakengates. At the time, the pub had structural problems, and Mr Ellis oversaw a substantial refurbishment.

But last year Mr Ellis said he had not been able to reopen the pub since the pandemic as it was not viable.

A campaign group was set up last year to get it reopened.

A public meeting, led by regular Pete Jackson, was held in March last year, when it was agreed to look into the possibility of taking it over under a community-ownership scheme.

They launched their campaign with a light show projecting 'Save the Elephant' onto the front of the pub.

Mr Ellis said at the launch of the campaign that he fully supported the efforts of the campaign.

"When I bought the pub I was told it was 12 months away from a structural collapse, because the building was falling down," he said.

"Had that happened, Dawley would have been left with a collapsed building on the high street. We didn't do all that work saving the pub, and spending all that money just to get rid of it."

But he said Dawley town centre had been very quiet since the Covid lockdowns, and at the moment the pub, and he had been unable to make it pay. He said he was open to ideas on how best to save it.

The Grade II listed pub is described by estate agent Andrew Dixon & Co as having 'some redevelopment potential subject to the necessary planning consent'.

The agent describes the property as an end terrace, two-storey building with two substantial basements.

Internally, the accommodation consists of an open trading bar on the ground floor, together with customer toilets, stores and a former brewery area. There is also a separate function room with its own access off Burton Street, which may afford the opportunity to trade independently of the main business areas.

Upstairs, there is a larger function room, with room for approximately 60 people, with its own bar and toilets and access via a separate staircase.

Also on the first floor is a five-bedroom living area, currently laid out as 4 rooms plus a catering kitchen, in addition to a private lounge, kitchen and bathroom.

The agent added that there a large enclosed, slate-tiled courtyard with raised gardens to the rear was currently used as an outside seating

"However this area is very well suited for further development or expansion, or on-site car parking and storage," it added.

The pub co-hosted the Telford Beer Festival, along with The Crown, and had featured in the Campaign for Real Ale's Good Beer Guide.