Community Group Initiates Share Offer to Acquire Village Pub

Residents are undertaking a fundraising initiative to acquire a well-known pub, which has been shut for over a year, with the aim of preserving it. The Elm Tree Inn, a central establishment in Langton Herring for over three centuries, ceased operations in November 2023. The Friends of the Elm Tree campaign group aims to transition the pub to community ownership and has already secured half of the required £600,000. According to Anne Kerins, a member of the steering committee, the reopening of the pub “it would mean everything.” She stated: “We do not have a bus service or a Post Office or a shop – they have all gone.” She continued: “The pub was the last thing to go and we are really quite upset about it.” Kerins added: “There are people stuck at home with nowhere to go.” She further explained: “There’s a strong sense of community. A lot of people would love to go to the pub and meet friends – single people, retired people who are on their own – who would like to be able to go out.” “It gives everybody a sense of wellbeing if they can go and meet people, even if it’s only for half an hour,” she concluded. The group released a business plan earlier this month and, on Monday, initiated a share offering for the venture, requiring a minimum investment of £200. Anne is among six individuals on the steering committee, who receive assistance from numerous additional volunteers. Their fundraising efforts also encompass securing grants, receiving donations, and organizing various events. In recent years, community interest companies have been increasingly utilized to preserve local assets like village shops and pubs. Examples of facilities successfully preserved by local communities include The Drovers Inn in Gussage All Saints, Corner House Stores in Broadmayne, and the White Lion in Broadwindsor. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.