Villagers who bought the historic Plough Inn, in Longparish, Hampshire, have been named as winners of the Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) Pub Saving Award.
When the pub closed its doors — seemingly for good — in December 2015, local villagers sprung into action, lobbying local planning officers to deny planning permission to turn the pub into a residence.
They subsequently used grants, donations, and a community share scheme to purchase the pub, in conjunction with the parish council, in February 2021. More than 300 investors came forward.
After months of hard work, completely refurbishing the property inside and out, and 300 years after it first began trading, The Plough Inn is once again at the heart of the Longparish community.
The pub was actually bought by the parish council. Local villagers have taken on a 99-year lease from the council for the exclusive use of the property. This will secure the future of the Plough Inn as a public house, and promote it as an amenity of prime importance to the community.
Andy Jolliffe, chair of Longparish Community Pub Ltd, said: “At the core of a community pub is the local people that it serves. Our aim in taking over the Plough Inn has been to provide a range of services much wider than just the provision of food and drinks to the local community.
“To see the Plough Inn thriving once again, both as a popular destination pub, and a vibrant and valued community asset at the heart of Longparish village, is a fantastic achievement.”
The runner-up in the competition is the Three Horseshoes, in Helions Bumpstead, Essex. This is another success story of a local village taking the fate of its local pub into its own hands, running the pub as a community asset.
Paul Ainsworth, co-ordinator for CAMRA’s Pub Saving Award, said: “Huge congratulations to the dedicated villagers who have saved both the Plough Inn, in Longparish, and the Three Horseshoes, in Helions Bumpstead.
“Pubs play an irreplaceable role in bringing people together, and the decision to purchase and run a pub as a community is a real commitment to preserving its future for generations to come. It is a real privilege to be able to highlight these efforts. Well done to everyone involved.”
• CAMRA has resources and support for anybody looking to save their local. You can find CAMRA’s guides, plus more resources and contacts for advice, at www.camra.org.uk/
