A last call has been sounded for regulars to save a landmark Epsom pub where Samuel Pepys derived inspiration for his diaries.

The grade II-listed White Horse, in Dorking Road, could face closure after almost 350 years because of the sobering effects of the recession.

This week landlord Stuart Down admitted he would struggle to pay rental bills within three months, unless more residents champion their local.

He said: “We are now at a point where, unless we receive the support of our valued customers, we face closing the doors on all the efforts and the excellent local that we hope we’ve built over the past three years.

“We have been given another 12 weeks, after a rent review, and been allowed to buy ale from local breweries, which is really helping.

“The majority of locals do enjoy coming here and we have now cut the price of our food to encourage more to visit. If we’re still here next January we’ll make it, but it is getting to January that will be the problem.”

The White Horse, mentioned in Pepys’s diary in 1674, was a favoured watering hole during Epsom’s heyday as a spa town.

More recently it was named the best cask ale pub in the south-east in the Morning Advertiser Great British Pub awards.

Despite its struggles, the establishment is holding a not-for-profit beer festival for the Licensed Trade Charity over the August bank holiday weekend.

Ales from the Pilgrim and Hogsback breweries and French champagne cider will be served from 5pm on August 28 to 6pm on August 31.

Money from the event is to go to struggling landlords around the UK, with figures showing more than 50 pubs are closing each week.

For more details about the festival or the ‘support your local’ campaign visit whitehorseepsom.com