Gov injects more than £1m into pubs

Several venues have been confirmed to benefit from the cash injections, including the Grade II-listed Ty’n Llan in Caernarfon, Wales, which will receive £250,000 towards refurbishment and the George Pub in Bethersden, Kent, which was granted £250,000 towards upgrades following its closure in October 2020.

Lifeline​

The Countryman Inn in Hunton, North Yorkshire, is also set to receive £230,000 towards improvements, matching the £230,000 raised by the local community, while the Racehorse in Westhall, East Suffolk, was also purchased by its surrounding village with the help of £100,000 from the fund.

In addition, the Prince of Wales in Newton-St-Martin, Cornwall, which was forced to shut in November 2020 due to the financial impacts of the pandemic, has also been given a lifeline thanks to a £240,000 investment from the Government funding.

The Community Ownership Fund is a £150m initiative tasked with helping community groups across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland take ownership of assets at risk of being lost.

Social fabric​

Regarding the fund, Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) national chairman Nik Antona last year said: “Where dedicated local people are willing to save pubs in their area from closure, demolition or conversion to another use, it is right that they are supported to do just that.

“Our locals are vital parts of our social fabric – bringing people together, helping to tackle loneliness and social isolation and providing a range of services for rural communities they serve.

“That’s why it is so encouraging to see that more communities are benefiting from Community Ownership funding to secure the future of pubs in their communities.”