Campaigners rewarded for saving ex-GK pub

06-Jan-2020 - Last updated on 06-Jan-2020 at 09:45 GMT

All together: local community group saves pub from redevelopment after six years

Campaigners who saved a historic 17th century pub have been named runners-up in the Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) Pub Saving Award for their efforts to buy back the pub after it was closed and sold by Greene King in 2014.

The local community group, Three Tuns Action Group, saved the the Three Tuns pub from the risk of being redeveloped as housing after Greene King sold the listed pub to a property developer six years ago.

The action group fought tooth and nail to purchase the Guilden Morden, Cambridgeshire, pub thanks to the Plunkett Foundation and the fundraising efforts of the local residents, bringing it back to its former glory.

An enormous amount of work was required to make the pub suitable to lease but with the help of several volunteers, they were able to refurbish the pub, the tenant’s flat and the half-acre garden.

Committed campaign committee

Guilden Morden Community Pub Limited chairman John Harrison said: “Thank you to CAMRA for recognising our fight to save the Three Tuns. We are very proud to receive this award.

“It took a determined campaign committee, the dedication of many volunteers and the financial support of over 270 shareholders to achieve this.”

More than 500 people attended the official pub launch in August, and community activities are now starting to take root, including Tuns Talks, Walk & Talk and the Bar Games night.

Harrison added: “To see the pub thriving and busy, and being used by all the community is fantastic. The quality of the food and drink, and the warm welcome that our tenants, Megan and Peter, offer has really placed our community-owned village pub on the map.”

A secure future

He continued: “Not only has this asset of community value been restored to the heart of the village of Guilden Morden for the first time in six years, but its future is now secure.”

The national winner this year went to the Friends of Ye Olde Cross in the Tyne Valley, who also reopened their local as a community pub this year.

More than 300 locals invested in community shares to raise £150,000 which was used to purchase the pub and completely transform its interior.

Today, the pub runs a number of community events, including a quiz and open mic night, yoga lessons, food pop-ups, business networking, a yarn group and book club.

A community effort

Colin Cheesman from the Friends of Ye Olde Cross said: “Friends of Ye Olde Cross are honoured and proud to be chosen for this prestigious award.

“It is testimony to the commitment and effort of the community who all pulled together to raise funds to buy the pub.

“The renovation continues – as does the successful day-to-day running of the pub – by our appointed tenants, who have really embraced the concept of developing a successful community pub.”