THE new owner of a popular pub is confident to the business will reopen in two months.

The Dyke, in Dyke Road, Brighton, closed unexpectedly in 2016 and regulars have been battling ever since to save it.

The owner, Will Farmer, started a crowdfunding campaign to raise £20,000 so he can reopen as soon as possible.

He said: “The whole place needs a makeover. The crowdfunding will allow me to pay for the many things that need to be done.

“This includes a new bar, new kitchen, boiler, cold room and rewiring.

“My vision for the pub is to make it quirky, but a comfortable place that is full of art.

“We are going to have a fireplace with some furniture around it.

“We will be selling locally source ale, beer and other produce. I’m absolutely thrilled to have such amazing public support.

“Of course, the pledges made on the crowdfunding appeal mean people will simply be paying for their bar tab or meals in advance.

“No one will lose out and, in fact, they’ll benefit from rewards, depending on what they pledge.

“I’m very excited to crack on with work at the pub, which will be called The Dyke Alehouse and Kitchen and will serve delicious food and a great selection of drinks.

“Locals have been telling me how happy they will be to have their pub back after it suddenly closed.

“I will be donating ten per cent of my profits to community projects.”

Mr Farmer, who owns Veterans Brewing Sussex, is in the process of signing a 15-year lease on the property, which was taken over by new owners last year, and is obtaining the necessary permissions from Brighton and Hove City Council.

He needs to raise £20,000 by April 29.

In August last year the pub was sold by estate agents Carr and Priddle to Lan Estates for £1,050,000.

The site has been home to a pub for more than a century, but it closed overnight in September 2016.

There have been several attempts by the community to buy the pub to save it from closure.

In 2017, then owner Martin Webb tried to save it and submitted a planning application to reopen half of it.

However, he withdrew the application because he thought the venture would fail due to the level of opposition.

Mr Webb said he could not “get his point across and people got the wrong impression”.

To support Mr Farmer, go to www.crowdfunder.co.uk/reopen-the-dyke.