Two under-threat English pubs and a café tea garden in the South West have been put into community ownership and saved by government funding.
Silks on The Downs in Ogbourne, Wiltshire received £237,500, and The Prince of Wales in Helston, Cornwall got £240,000 from the £1.8m fund provided by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. £204,800 also went to keep the doors of Fontmell Magna village shop and Post Office open in Dorset.
The Silks pub has stood at the heart of the communities of the Ogbourne Saint Andrew, Maizey and Rockley hamlets for over 100 years and is “the only place that locals can get together, making it vital to the lives, wellbeing, and economy of the community.”
The Prince of Wales pub in the Cornish town of Helston too has become a focal point for the community after the local shop, garage and school closed in recent years.
Similarly, Fontmell Magna village shop and Post Office in Dorset has a café and tea garden that are the only such local services and act as one of the focal points for community life.
The pubs and café were among 10 new nationwide projects awarded money from the £150 million Community Ownership Fund, which helps communities take ownership of assets and amenities at risk of closure.
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said: “Pubs truly are the heart of our communities, and it is brilliant to see so many receiving support through the government’s Community Ownership Fund so they can continue to thrive. The past two years have been devastating for our sector, with many businesses still struggling as we emerge from the pandemic due to rising overheads and concerned consumers. While funding such as this which will help some pubs in the short term is welcome, longer term support for our sector is needed to ensure pubs across the country aren’t forced to close and we don’t lose our locals forever.”
CAMRA National Chairman Nik Antona said: “Where dedicated local people are willing to save pubs in their area from closure, demolition or conversion to another use it is right that they are supported to do just that.
“Our locals are vital parts of our social fabric – bringing people together, helping to tackle loneliness and social isolation, and providing a range of services for rural communities they serve.
“That’s why it is so encouraging to see that more communities are benefiting from Community Ownership funding to secure the future of pubs in their communities.”
