Residents in Polebrook are seeking to buy the King’s Arms, a Grade II listed pub that has served the village since the 17th century, through a not-for-profit community benefit society.
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The campaign has already secured more than £450k in contributions towards a £650k target.
Campaigners said the pub, which was bought by its current owner in July last year, had stopped serving food and was at risk of permanent closure without new investment.
Community ownership
The campaign follows a village hall meeting in January attended by more than 100 residents, who discussed options to bring the pub into community ownership.
Kieron Maughan, who helped launch the scheme, said: “Our vision is simple: to ensure the future of the King’s Arms as a thriving community-owned hub at the heart of village life.”
He said any surplus generated by the pub would be reinvested into the site and its facilities, with plans including a community shop for residents less able to travel.
Maughan added: “We hope this project will become a blueprint of how rural village pubs can be preserved when traditional models are no longer viable.
By demonstrating what can be achieved when local people take ownership of their future, we aim to inspire and support other villages facing the loss of their own cherished pubs.
Kieron Maughan
Celebrity support
The Save the King’s Arms campaign has attracted support from a number of well-known figures, including Paddington actor Broadbent, Mobland actor Boon, chef Tom Kerridge, Strictly star Craig Revel Horwood, singer Paul Young and presenters Charley Boorman and Fenella Fudge.
Broadbent described the King’s Arms as a “wonderful” pub that had been around for 300 years, adding campaigners hoped it would remain for another 300.
Kerridge also urged people to support the campaign, saying rural pubs “keep us all going”.
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has also backed the rescue bid.
CAMRA director J Mark Dodds said: “This is exactly the sort of work CAMRA’s long-term advocacy for pubs champions.
“What particularly impresses me is the team’s understanding of the pub’s social value; it anchors the community and captures the spirit and tradition of countryside hospitality, serving people from a much wider area, of all ages and backgrounds.”
The campaign comes amid continued pressure on rural pubs from rising operating costs, tax and reduced reliefs.
According to the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), 161 pubs closed in the first three months of 2026, equivalent to around two closures a day.
The story follows a number of recent community campaigns to protect local pubs, including efforts to save historic village sites from closure and bring pubs into community ownership.