Trio of rural pubs saved with ‘Levelling Up’ funding

25-Mar-2022 - Last updated on 25-Mar-2022 at 10:33 GMT

Pubs saved: three rural sites have received funding and will go into community ownership (Credit: Getty/Henrik Sorensen)

Three rural pubs have been saved after receiving much-needed financial boosts from the Government’s ‘Levelling Up’ fund.

Among the beneficiaries of the new funding scheme, which will see £150m handed to community assets across the UK, pubs in Wiltshire, Cornwall and Leicestershire will be backed and put into the hands of community ownership.

The Silks pub in Wiltshire, which has been the heart of Ogbourne Saint Andrew, Maizey and Rockley hamlets for more than 100 years has been thrown a lifeline with investment of £237,500. The pub is said to be the only place that locals can get together, making it vital to the lives, wellbeing, and economy of the community.

There is also £240,000 funding for the Prince of Wales pub in the Cornish town of Helston, which has become a focal point for the community after the local shop, garage and school closed in recent years. While £150,000 will breathe new life into the Bell Inn in Leicestershire, which closed two years ago and was likely to be lost to developers.

Vital part of social fabric

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) national chairman Nik Antona 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.”

Too many disappearing

Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove added: “Pubs, historic buildings and sports clubs form a vital part of our heritage and for too many places they are a disappearing part of the local community.

“That is why we are helping local people take control of these beloved community assets, which would otherwise be lost.

“This sits right at the heart of our vision for levelling up – giving people the power to make positive changes in their local community and restoring pride in the places where the live.”

The pubs are among 10 new projects being rescued with a total of £1.8 million of funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The money is being awarded from the department’s £150m Community Ownership fund, which helps communities take ownership of assets and amenities at risk of closure.