Village Pub Restoration Project Denied Government Funding

The government’s rejection of funding for a project aimed at revitalizing a historic village pub has been met with dismay, anger, and disappointment. The Miners Arms, located in the core of Nenthead, a village in the North Pennines, Cumbria, had been a community fixture for almost two centuries before its closure in 2020. Supporters had anticipated that a £360,000 application for government funding would bolster their initiative to preserve the remote establishment; however, the request was declined, with only feedback provided. Simon Walker, who chairs the Miners Arms Community Pub Ltd (MACPL), characterized some of the stated reasons for the refusal as “totally spurious”. Mr. Walker conveyed his feelings of being “disappointed, dismayed, angry, befuddled and bemused” by the government’s ruling, adding that the group presently perceives no viable way to secure sufficient funds for the pub’s reopening. “We really explored every possible avenue prior to this,” he stated. He further noted, “With the 200th anniversary of the creation of the village coming up next year and the 200th anniversary of the known trading of the Miners Arms in 2027, it will be without a pub that the villagers of Nenthead celebrate their bicentenary.” The government indicated that applicants who were unsuccessful in securing funds from its Community Ownership Fund would receive feedback to assist them in refining their business plans and pursuing alternative funding avenues. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government affirmed that all bids that satisfied the minimum scoring requirements for a grant were ultimately funded. Earlier in the current year, MACPL initiated a share offer with a goal of £95,000, successfully surpassing this target by accumulating over £100,000 in under a month. This initiative to revitalize the establishment garnered support from individuals globally, with hundreds submitting applications for shares. Certain investors contributed to a “pay it forward” scheme, which enabled any villager to apply for shares, irrespective of their personal financial capacity to purchase them. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.