The Cross Keys in Gainford, near Darlington, opens with young landlord

The new landlord at The Cross Keys in Gainford, near Darlington, Louis Jerrom had his Christening party at the historic pub and even held his 18th birthday party there.

Louis, who thinks he could be Britain’s youngest male landlord, had always dreamt of running his own pub, but planned to do his masters and PhD after finishing his degree in philosophy.

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But when the opportunity to take over his local watering hole cropped up he couldn’t turn it down.

Louis said: “I’ve always wanted to own a pub since I started working here when I was 15 but it’s quite a tricky thing to do.

“The plan was to do my degree, masters and PhD and become a professor and own a pub on the side.

Louis outside his boozer. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“That was the dream, but it just so happened that the local was looking for a new owner.

“The owners said they would love for me to take over.”

Louis started out collecting glasses aged 15 and kept working shifts at The Cross Keys when he was home from university in Stirling.

He now believes he’s Britain’s youngest male landlord.

In May, Rheanna Geraghty got the keys to the Waggon and Horses in Steeple Morden, Cambridgeshire aged 18, having just reached the legal drinking age herself. She is believed to be the youngest landlord in the UK, but Louis believes he’s the youngest male with a pub at 22.

In High Wycombe two male landlords aged 24 and 26 have snapped up a portfolio of three pubs, the Bucks Free Press reported in July.

The Cross Keys reopened on Friday. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Louis got the keys at the end of August and has given the local a fresh lick of paint and bought in new furniture. He moved in himself earlier this week.

“I guess I should be excited but I’m definitely nervous at the minute,” Louis told The Northern Echo.

“I just want everyone to enjoy what I’ve done.

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“The response has been outrageous. People in the village have been coming to help redecorate.”

The public house reopened on Friday (September 8) at 7pm.

The Cross Keys won’t serve food at first while Louis focuses on drawing in more punters.