More than 50 pubs across the UK now being run by the community

By James Wallin

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Great british pub Public house

CAMRA has welcomed the number of communities taking over their local pub
CAMRA has welcomed the number of communities taking over their local pub
New research from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has shown how communities are banding together to take over their local.

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

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