Shropshire Communities Receive Over £500,000 in Grants for Pub Reopenings

The acquisition of two rural pubs in Shropshire by their respective communities is being facilitated by distinct government grants, which collectively exceed £500,000. Currently, both the Crown Inn, located in Newcastle-on-Clun, and the Fox Inn, situated in Ryton, are not operational. Nevertheless, local organizations are aiming to renovate and bring them back into service. Steve Burge, representing Newcastle Parish Council, stated that the council submitted an application to the Community Ownership Fund. The objective was to secure sufficient capital to “bring the premises up to date and make it an attractive venue.” The Friends of the Fox Inn group expressed that they were “excited” about receiving the grant and confirmed they had initiated discussions with the pub’s owners regarding its purchase. The Crown ceased its operations two years prior. Mr. Burge mentioned that his parish council had been investigating the possibility of acquiring the freehold interest in the property, with the intention of establishing the pub as “a community asset.” The parish council received a grant of £270,000. This funding is intended to assist with the acquisition of the property and to undertake necessary renovations to “bring it up to date and attract a competent, ambitious tenant.” He explained that due to the area’s low population density, it would have been unfeasible for residents to “club together” to purchase the pub. Consequently, applying to the Community Ownership Fund was described as a “no-brainer.” Mr. Burge conveyed his hope that, with the parish council assuming the role of landlord, “this community asset becomes once again, a well-loved attraction in the Upper Clun Valley.” Helen May, who serves as the secretary for the Friends of The Fox Inn group, stated that she had experienced “incredible support from the local community.” Her group also indicated plans to initiate a share issue to secure additional funding. According to The Friends, The Fox was a “previously thriving country pub” that ceased operations in September 2022. A meeting is scheduled for January to deliberate on the subsequent actions. For updates, follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.