Communities get £250,000 in budget to run their own pubs

For a number of years community-owned pubs have been succeeding in Oxfordshire, particularly in villages.

Now more pubs could be saved by communities thanks to the grants programme launched by the Chancellor.

Those already operating include The Red Lion in Northmoor, The Seven Stars at Marsh Baldon, The Crown at South Moreton, The Abingdon Arms in Beckley and The White House in Bladon.

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Without the backing of their local communities many of these pubs would have closed.

Dave Richardson, spokesman for the Oxford branch of real ale group CAMRA, welcomed the Chancellor’s pledge to do more to support pubs struggling as a result of repeated coronavirus lockdowns during the past 12 months.

The fund is due to open for applications in the summer

Mr Richardson said: “We welcome this - £250,000 would certainly be a good start for a community takeover.

“There are about nine community-owned pubs in the county and it’s very useful that the government is recognising community-owned pubs as a viable prospect.”

Mr Richardson has warned of more high-profile pub closures after St John’s College shut the historic Lamb & Flag pub in St Giles in January.

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Graham Shelton, who runs the Red Lion in Northmoor, said: “There is a particular and important place in all this for the community-owned pubs sector and, as some pubs fall vacant, now is a good time for communities to decide if they wish to dive in.

Graham Shelton, second right and the team running the community-owned Red Lion pub in Northmoor

“I am delighted to report that the Oxfordshire Community-Owned Pubs Network has weathered the storm really well, and goes from strength to strength.

“So what should you do if your pub doesn’t re-open? Is it time for you to step forward to buy your very own pub? It takes a big commitment from a community to buy its pub, often closed because what was there before had not been viable. All the legal, financial, planning and people issues are definitely not for the faint-hearted. It’s also a bit like having a family: an expensive and long-term commitment!

“On the other hand, community pub ownership can certainly be successful and fun, and it is notable that few have failed anywhere in the country over the last 8-10 years since the very first one was born.”

Villagers outside The Crown in South Moreton

The White House pub in Bladon was saved by the community after fears it would end up in the hands of developers.

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Residents formed a committee, the Bladon Community Pub, and in May 2020 successfully had an offer accepted by Greene King.

News first broke that the pub was going to be sold at the end of the summer in 2019.

Now, the pub has launched a community kitchen, giving back to those who supported its plight.

The Bladon Community Benefit Society launched a Crowdfunder, which raised the necessary funds to roll out the community kitchen.

Villagers outside the Seven Stars in Marsh Baldon

The scheme is designed to help those struggling financially, self-isolating or shielding with hot meals to be delivered to their door.

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Pub landlord Johnny Roberts said earlier: “In conjunction with the #endchildfoodpoverty campaign we have seen that there is a need to provide a hot meal to the vulnerable in our area.”

The Chancellor’s community ownership fund scheme is cash-match-based, so community groups will have the opportunity to double their money if they are able to raise the funds to help keep their pubs and sports clubs open.