AS pretty as a picture postcard, the once thriving fishing village of Portloe on the Roseland Peninsula is thriving no more. Walk through at certain times of the year and it’s very likely you won’t see a living soul in this second-homes haven: 83 per cent of the accommodation in the village isn’t lived in all year round.

With no shop and many businesses closing over the years, the one thing such a village needs to keep it alive is a pub. So when St Austell Brewery announced it was going to sell the Ship Inn, it sent shockwaves through Portloe and the surrounding hamlets.

Around 100 permanent residents call Portloe home 365 days a year. Now they’re fighting back, by bringing the Ship into community ownership to ensure it once again becomes a thriving hub for all and an important asset for future generations.

It’s a tall order. Dating back to the 1700s, the pub is on the market for £550,000, but the Save Our Ship (SOS) group is determined to raise the funds.

With the support of Veryan Parish Council, a group was formed, a public meeting held and a survey of local people’s opinions and ideas undertaken. Support to buy the pub as a community venture was overwhelming.

Today (Friday, May 16) is an important day for the SOS working group as it’s when they need to be in a position to start negotiations with St Austell Brewery. The minimum requirement to enter into talks is £350,000.

They made good headway in raising the necessary funds through pledges, raising £300,000 with one week to go – including a £15,000 cash injection from Cornwall Council’s Good Growth Fund - but the group needs more support.

Paula Jones is one of the leading lights of the working party. As residents congregated outside the Ship to film a promotional video to support their thorough business plan, she told us: “This pub is an important part of the community, and a social asset. Without it, we could really see Portloe being hollowed out. It’s been very emotive for a lot of people in the area.

“We need to be able to sustain our beautiful pub and all its history for future generations. By ensuring its survival, we will be helping to sustain other businesses as well.”

She added: “This isn’t just for the people of Portloe. We need to share the place with others - it’s that special. We want to welcome people from the wider Roseland and beyond. Even King Charles says ‘the pub is the hub’.”

Committee member Steve Hammett described the pub as “the last man standing”. As everyone from seven-year-old Millie – one of only two children in the village - to Hilda, 95, joined the calls to save the Ship, it shows this Cornish community is determined to fight to save the beating heart of its village.

Make a pledge and read the business plan at https://veryanparishcouncil.gov.uk/services/save-the-ship-inn/