Latest news with #communitypub
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fresh start for community pub - with talent show, whisky club, carvery and jazz
A community pub has been given a new lease of life - with the introduction of Totton's Got Talent, a whisky club and Mellow Sundays. Laura and Rich Bradshaw have been at the helm of The Saxon Inn in Calmore for just six weeks and are already making waves. The couple, lifelong publicans who last had a pub in Essex, have already hosted several events for their chosen local charity, and introduced live music and a variety of special nights and offers. (Image: The Saxon Inn)READ MORE:Transformation of one of the New Forest's most well known pubs Laura told the Daily Echo: "We wanted a change of scenery and like this area, so we decided to come down and give it a go, see what happens. "We came in hoping to cause a ripple, but it's been more like a tidal wave! We know the pub has had its ups and downs over the years and we want to make this era a big up. We are already seeing people who haven't been in for ages coming back. "We want to be very community orientated, if anyone needs any help, come to the pub and we'll see what we can do, we might be able to help or put you in touch with someone. "I grew up where the pub was the centre of the village, the heart of the community, that's what we want to achieve. "There's something for everyone and everyone is welcome." (Image: The Saxon Inn) Totton's Got Talent, with a cash prize of £1,000, will run from July 11 to 13, one of a number of fundraising efforts following the pub's promise to raise £5,000 each year for local heart screenings by Cardiac Risk in the Young, in memory of Calmore lad Ryan Carter, who died suddenly in 2019, aged 25. There's also been a special evening with former professional boxer Joe Egan and a family fun day, with lots more events to come inspired by a meeting with Ryan's mum Sue, including a Bullseye style darts contest in August. Mellow Sundays - with a carvery and live jazz band - have been a revelation, there's a resident DJ on Friday nights and local covers bands performing every Saturday. There's pizza and a pint for £10 on Mondays, the pool team are in on Tuesdays, it's Wednesday for quiz night and steaks are served up on Thursdays. (Image: The Saxon Inn) Foodie favourites include Wagyu steak and lobster tail while Cruzcampo, drinks from the cocktail pump and a great selection of whiskies for connoisseurs are also proving popular. The pub offers a food and drink delivery service within an eight mile radius. The outside space is being revamped to include a garden of remembrance and there are plans for an internal refurbishment next year.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Reading pub with rooftop pool back up for sale after previously being under offer
A Reading pub that has sparked recent controversy is back up for sale after being previously under offer. According to Rightmove, The Jolly Anglers is currently available to buy for £540,000. This comes as just a few months prior, the house lettings and sales website labelled the riverside pub as being 'under offer.' When news broke that there was a potential buyer for the pub, some aired their concerns that The Jolly Anglers may be turned into flats. The recent controversy surrounding the future use of the site saw neighbours express a preference for the pub to be used as a community space rather than for residential purposes. Colm Daly and Cathy Mars first met at The Jolly Anglers pub 15 years ago, when it was still open. "We met on St George's Day," Ms Mars said. "There was free bangers and mash in the pub to celebrate, which was just perfect. "It's always been a community hub in the Newtown area, and is one of the few remaining riverside pubs in Reading." The couple ran a campaign called 'Jollydarity' a decade previously to keep the pub open, and at the time, it worked. "The local community will oppose this change of use. We still have the banners and T-shirts from the previous campaign," Ms Mars continued.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cornwall village comes together to raise thousands to save local pub
The village of Ponsanooth came together at the weekend in a show of support for the Save The Stag community pub campaign. The Pop-Up Pub In The Park event on Sunday featured a host of activities throughout the day and centred around The Hundred Mile Challenge. It raised over £4,000 towards the fight to reopen the Stag Inn. The race is on in the 100 mile challenge (Image: Toby Weller) The challenge saw the whole community pull together in an attempt to walk, run, cycle, scoot and skate a combined distance of 100 miles. Not only did the village reach the ambitious target, but in the space of 5 hours, together they travelled over 170 miles! Designed to represent the village's aim of raising the funds required to bring the pub into community ownership, everyone got involved and did what they could to build the combined total. Volunteers in Ponsanooth have formed a Community Benefit Society to take on the challenge of raising around half a million pounds to buy The Stag and reopen it (Image: Toby Weller) 'This was the ultimate show of the power of a village community - whether you walked one lap or ran 20 laps of the park, every contribution helped. If we are to succeed in buying the pub for the village we will need everyone to come together and contribute in whatever way they can.' Said Sam Fitch, chair of Save The Stag. The event was to raise money to buy the Stag Inn pub (Image: Toby Weller) The line-up for the day included pig racing, live music, line dancing, circus skills workshops, face painting, a mobile escape room, a cocktail bar and so much more - all made possible by the willingness of volunteers and local businesses to offer their time and support. 'We've been blown away by the support we have received - not just the villagers who are behind us, but the wealth of local businesses who donated raffle prizes, the local breweries who donated beer, the performers and businesses who attended on the day and the volunteers who have put in so much work. It goes to show just how important we all know a village pub to be.' Said Ally McGee Harrison of Save The Stag. Getting into the groove! (Image: Toby Weller) Volunteers in Ponsanooth have formed a Community Benefit Society to take on the challenge of raising around half a million pounds to buy The Stag and reopen it as one of a growing number of community pubs around the country. READ NEXT: Consultation to change Falmouth roads - including new crossings and speed limit Boost for coastal National Trust sites in Cornwall as The Salt Path hits cinemas If they succeed the group intends to recruit a manager to oversee the day to day running of the pub, and will reinvest every penny of profit into village causes, to make Ponsanooth an even better village and community to be a part of. 'Imagine a true community pub that is run for purpose and not just for profit. That builds its business around the needs of the community, and that reinvests every penny into improving the quality of life for residents of the village, the parish and the wider community. This is our vision for The Stag', said Sam Fitch. The event was to raise money to buy the Stag Inn pub (Image: Toby Weller) As well as fundraising events and donations, the Community Benefit Society are applying for grants towards the purchase and will soon be launching a Community Shares Offer - allowing anyone around the world to own a part of the pub, have a democratic say over the way the project develops, and to earn a return on their investment. The event was to raise money to buy the Stag Inn pub (Image: Toby Weller) Organisers say they are delighted with the success of their first fundraising event, having raised nearly £4,000 from the day, and that they have a lot more ideas up their sleeves for fun and exciting ways to get everyone involved with making the Community Pub Project a success. Keep up to date on their progress through the group's social media channels and website - Or donate at -
BBC News
26-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Villagers run, skate and cycle 170 miles to save Cornwall pub
Villagers have skated, ran and cycled 170 miles (273 km) in a bid to save a Cornish Save the Stag campaign aims to raise about £500,000 to save The Stag Hunt Inn in Ponsanooth and hosted its first event on of the group said they wanted to turn the building, which was up for sale, into a community-run pub so it can be kept in the village and managed by fundraiser - which had a target or 100 miles (161 km) - raised £3,600. Chair Sam Fitch said if they achieved their plans they would need "everyone behind us"."Some people will be able to put in a little, some will be able to put in a lot."But just like the 100-mile challenge, we hope we'll be able to reach our target and purchase the pub."The fundraiser also included pig racing, live music and a line dancing workshop. The group also applied for grant funding - offering people the chance to buy Mcgee-Harrison from the group said: "By buying it [the pub] as a community and sharing it with the community enables us to have different projects for young people and right the way through to knitting circles and things like that, so it is really important."
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Community-owned pub in Bethersden wins top real ale award
A community pub in Kent which reopened just two years ago has been crowned local pub of the year and is now through to the regional stage of the competition. The George, in Bethersden, closed for two-and-a-half years after the pandemic but relaunched in May 2023 after villagers raised the £300,000 they needed to buy Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) said it soon spotted The George was "taking real ale seriously" and has made it their pub of the year for the Ashford, Folkestone and Romney Marsh Draper, chair of The George Community Ltd, said: "Being awarded pub of the year is not just an accolade for the pub, it's for all our customers, friends and supporters." The pub said it prided itself on its choice of real ales and ciders, supporting local breweries and its regular rotation of guest George also holds two beer festivals a year and hosts live music and community events including quizzes, bingo nights, board game nights and knitting social Collyer, chairperson of Camra in the Ashford, Folkestone and Romney Marsh area, said: "When The George reopened in May 2023, we realised it was taking real ale seriously."Achieving this award for a pub covered by our branch area is recognition of that commitment to delivering the perfect pint."We are delighted that The George is in our patch and look forward to seeing it go from strength to strength."The George is now up against four other winning pubs from other local Camra branches for the overall award for the East Kent area.
