More than 50 pubs across the UK now being run by the community
The figures, released to coincide with the start of CAMRA’s Community Pubs Month, shows 56 locals are now being run by residents, with six more in progress.
The group’s chairman, Colin Valentine, said: “The Great British pub is something unique and deserving of protection and it is inspiring to see so many communities across the UK fighting
to save their local by raising the money to purchase it themselves.
Heartening
“With 28 pubs closing each week there is much more that needs to be done to protect pubs, but it is heartening to see the desire to save pubs is clearly there among the pub-going public.”
One success story among these is the Norton Community Pub in Cold Norton, Essex. The pub was threatened with closure in 2007, but was saved after villagers grouped together to take it over. Shares in the pub were sold and raised over £100,000, more than £20,000 over the original target, with 70% taken up by villagers themselves.
The Old Crown Pub in Hesket Newmarket, Cumbria is believed to be the first co-operative pub in the country, having formed in 2003.
Julian Ross, who led 100 residents in the bid, said: “People say they don’t care about making a return on their investment. They just want to preserve something that is important for the community.
“This is a cosy, friendly pub, which you can go into whether you are wearing your wellies, walking boots, or a suit, and you won’tcome out without speaking to someone.”
Right to bid
The most recent takeovers have utilised the Community Right to Bid, which allows residents to nominate pubs as Assets of Community Value (ACV).
These included the Red Lion in Sidbury, which Punch Taverns last week agreed to sell to Sidbury Community Enterprises (SCE). Punch put the pub up for sale last April, and SCE successfully campaigned to have it listed as an ACV in August. The Red Lion is the only pub in a village of 800 people.
Organisers say the money will have to be raised in the next two months for the group to buy the pub. Under the share offer, individuals will be able to buy shares at £50 each, up to a value of £20,000.
List of community owned pubs
Angel | 15 Cross St, Grosmont, Monmouthshire, NP7 5EN |
Anglers Rest | Bamford, Derbyshire, S33 0DY |
Barge Inn | Honeystreet, Wiltshire, SN9 5PS |
Beauchamp Arms | Dymock, Gloucestershire, GL18 2AQ |
Bull, The | Sheep Street, Great Milton, Oxfordshire, OX7 3RR |
Butchers Arms | Crosby Ravensworth Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 3JP |
Cadeleigh Arms | Tiverton, Cadeleigh, Devon, EX16 8HP |
Cherry Tree | Laburnum Drive, Willingham, Lincolnshire, LN3 4AS |
Crown | Dilwyn, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR4 8HL |
Cwmdu Inn | Cwmdu, Llandeilo, Carmathenshire |
The Dolphin | Bishampton, Worcs, WR10 2LX |
Dykes End | Fair Green, Reach, Cambridgeshire, CB25 0JD |
Earl of Chesterfield | Shelford, Nottinghamshire, NG12 1EQ |
Farriers Arms | The Forstal Mersham |
Fleece Inn | Hillesley, Gloucstershire, GL12 7RD |
Foresters | Carlton in Coverdale, North Yorkshire, DL8 4RU |
Fox & Goose | Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, HX7 6AZ |
Fox & Hounds | Charwelton, NN11 3YY |
Fox & Hounds | Ennerdale Bridge, Cumbria, CA23 3AR |
George and Dragon | Hudswell, Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL11 6BL |
Golden Ball | Bishopshill, York, YO1 6DU |
Green Man | Mill End Green, Toppesfield, Essex, CM6 2DN |
Green Man, The | 2 Lower St, Thriplow, Royston, SG8 7RJ |
Greyhound Inn | Grizebeck, Cumbria |
Heneage Arms | Hainton, Lincolnshire, LN8 6LX |
Holly Bush Inn | Seighford, Staffordshire, ST18 0BX |
Hope, The | 48 West Street, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 2PR |
Jolly Brewers, The | 5 Fen Road, Milton, Cambridge, CB24 6AD |
Jolly Farmer | Cookham Dean, Berkshire |
Kings Arms | Shouldham, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, PE38 0BY |
Merrie Lion | Brook Street, Fenny Compton, Warwickshire, CV47 2YH |
New Inn | Shipton Gorge, Dorset, DT6 4LT |
Norton Community Pub, The | 54 Latchingdon Road, Cold Norton, Dengie, CM3 6JB |
Old Crown Pub | Hesket Newmarket, Wigton, Cumbria, CA7 8JG |
Pengwern, The | Y Pengwern, Church Square, Llan Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, LL41 4PB |
Plough and Fleece, The | High Street , Horningsea, North East Cambridge, CB25 9JG |
Punchbowl Inn | Battisford, IP14 2LQ |
Raven Inn, The | Ffordd Rhiw Ial, Llanarmon-yn-Ial, Ruthin, CH7 4QE |
Red Lion | Arlingham, Gloucestershire, GL2 7JH |
Red Lion, The | The Green, Preston, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG4 7UD |
Rose and Crown | Slaley, Hexham, Northumberland, NE47 0AA |
Royal Oak Inn, The | Meavy, Devon, PL20 6PJ |
Saith Seren Pub | Chester Street, Wrexham, Wales, LL13 8BG |
Seven Stars | Marsh Baldon, Oxfordshire, OX44 9LP |
Shurlock Inn | The Street, Shurlock Row, West Berkshire, RG10 0PS |
Sorrel Horse | Hollesley Rd, Shottisham, Suffolk IP12 3HD |
Star Inn | Lidgate, Suffolk, CB8 9PP |
Star Inn, The | 2 Back Hope Street, Salford, North Manchester, M7 2FR |
Stoke Canon Inn | High St, Exeter, Devon, EX5 4AR |
Tally Ho | Hungerford Newtown, West Berkshire, RG17 0PP |
Three Horseshoes | Thursley, GU8 6QD |
Tyn-Y-Capel | Minera, Wrexham, LL11 3DA |
Village Swan | Ivinghoe Aston, Bucks Mid-Chilterns , LU7 9DP |
White Hart | Wolvercote, Oxfordshire, OX2 8QA |
White Horse, The | Brancaster Staithe, Upton, Norfolk, PE31 8BY |
Yarcombe Inn, The | A30 between Honiton and Chard, Yarcombe, EX14 9BD |
