A country pub dating back more than 250 years has been put up for sale.

The Royal Oak Inn, at Moorhouse, to the west of Carlisle, is in search of a new owner.

The pub has been owned and managed by Nick Sowerby and Charlotte Black since 2007.

The firm involved in the sale says the inn has had more than £100,000 worth of renovations in the past decade and has wood burning stoves and beamed ceilings.

One of its most notable characteristics, due to its age, is that the doorways are slightly lower than more modern buildings.

It means taller customers often need to be advised to mind their heads.

The owners are looking to take retirement.

Mr Sowerby said: “I bought the pub about 10 years ago because I wasn’t ready to retire and I wanted something to occupy myself.

"I have a grandson now, so I feel ready to retire so I can spend more time with my growing family.

“The best thing about running the Royal Oak Inn has been meeting all the customers.

"There’s a real sense of community and there’s always new people coming by to try the food or enjoy the atmosphere.

"We never have any problems filling the bottle banks at the end of the week!”

The owners have turned to business broker Hilton Smythe - a UK-wide firm - to help them sell the business.

Gareth Smyth, group managing director at Hilton Smythe, said: “Pubs are a great business for people wanting to be their own boss.

"Village pubs, like the Royal Oak Inn, are the cornerstone of the community and have loyal customers as well as passing trade.

"It’s a great source of income and gives you the chance to get to know people, especially the characters."

He said there was a trend for younger people to become landlords, breathing new life into the industry.

"There was a time when the idea of a family business, such as a country pub, might have been considered unfashionable," he added.

"So I’m very pleased that more people can see the potential in running their own pub."