Anonymous bidder buys historic Ripe pub

The Lamb Inn in Church Lane, which closed its doors in January 2015, sold to an anonymous bidder for £367,000 at the Clive Emson regional auction in Brighton on Wednesday (June 15).

The sale comes after an 18-month campaign by residents to re-open the pub and prevent the property being sold to developers.

Responding to the sale Alfriston councillor Philip Ede, who has been supporting the community campaign, said: “I’m glad that the future of the lamb is on its way to being resolved. I wish the new owners well. It would be lovely to see it reopen as a pub but it is still too early to tell what will happen.”

The pub, which beat its guide price by £67,000, was among 145 lots being sold at the auction at the Brighton Metropole.

The former pub includes a cellar, two bars, a restaurant and accommodation on two upper floors.

Emma Attrell senior auction valuer at Clive Emson said: “At the heart of the village, this building is considered suitable for a variety of uses.

“We are not aware of the intentions of the new owners at this stage.

A further round of Clive Emson’s regional auctions is expected to be held at the Brighton Metropole on Wednesday, July 25 at 11am. Entries close on Monday, June 27.

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