Villagers raise £200,000 to save and reopen their 150-year-old pub

Two years ago residents in Rudston were told their vision of buying the Bosville Arms was a “pipe dream” by developers, who appealed East Riding Council’s refusal of planning permission - and lost.

Now they are looking for a tenant to run the pub, which has been in the village - famous for having the tallest standing stone in the country - at least 150 years.

Parish councillor Ian Simmonds said: “It’s been a long ride.

“The developer employed these big planning consultants and went to appeal, but the community put up a good and compelling case.

“We put a bid together which showed we were perfectly capable of buying it and showed what a viable asset it was to the community and he eventually capitulated and decided to sell.”

He said they couldn’t have succeeded without help from the Plunkett Foundation, which helps communities take over and run local assets

The Bosville Arms was the only community facility left in Rudston, apart from the village hall, as had already lost its shop, petrol station and post office.

It was originally owned by Thorpe Hall, a 10 minute walk away, who sold it in the 1940s or 1950s.

Mr Simmonds said 123 people took up a community share offer, while the foundation also supplied a loan, grant and invaluable expert advice.

“They put us in touch with people from The George & Dragon, Hudswell, and one of them came down and did a talk which was really good. We raised £204,000 from the community and eventually the owner had no choice but to accept it.

“I think one of the things that has come out of the community pubs network throughout this current crisis is that they have become even more important in the centre of their communities by offering all types of services.”

The new landlord will be expected to run services for the community, including a luncheon club for the elderly and those living on their own.

They also want to encourage youngsters to use the pub as a social hub and start a support group for men who may feel isolated. Mr Simmonds said a team of volunteers would lend the new landlord a hand.

Almost a quarter of privately-owned pubs have shut down since 2008, but community pubs have a 100 per cent success rate.

He said: “No community pub has ever closed following the same model because it works.”

Benefits include a lower rent and not having to buy beer as pubs usually do from the pub company that owns them, often at higher rates. “We now need to put the word round the region that we are in the market for a tenant,” said Mr Simmonds.

“We are a not-for-profit company and the rent we will charge a tenant will be a lot less than comparable pubs owned by pub companies - typically two-thirds of what a pub company will normally charge.

“It will be a free house which allows a tenant to make themselves a decent living.”

The Bosville Arms is one of nearly 100 community pubs around the country.

It has a large bar and restaurant, as well as five letting rooms and a four-bedroomed manager’s flat.

Other community-run pubs include The George and Dragon in Hudswell, The Foresters Arms in Carlton, and the Gardeners Rest in Sheffield.

The Bosville Arms got help under the ‘More Than A Pub’ initiative which has helped a total of 58 pubs. During lockdown the programme provided small grants to around half of the community pubs in England.

Anyone interested should contact [email protected].

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