Villagers launch 11th-hour bid to save closed pub

Parishioners in the North Yorkshire village of Fadmoor, near Kirkbymoorside, will gather at a public meeting in the village hall on Monday to discuss the feasibility of running the Plough as a co-operative.

Resident Jim Dye, who is also parish clerk, said: “We are looking into making a community bid similar to the one in Hudswell, near Richmond. We would like anybody who has an interest in the future of the Plough to come along and show an interest.

“We are hopeful there will be a good turnout and we are hoping people from other areas will show their support. It’s will be a big enterprise and we need as many people as possible to get involved for it to be feasible.”

Mr Dye said the pub, which was mentioned in the minutes of the first parish meeting on December 4, 1894, was successful for many years and was still listed in pub guides.

“We do know that in the past it has been a successful pub under different ownership and that the three previous owners made a go of it,” he said. “It was a shock when it closed down and if we can keep it open by some sort of community process then we are prepared to do that.”

The Plough, which is on the market for more than £450,000. is owned by one of Britain’s richest men, who said he was forced to close it in January after making losses of up to £25,000 a year.

Since the closure, online tycoon Peter Wilkinson has come under fire from residents who have accused the multi-millionaire of favouring the Royal Oak, in nearby Gillamoor, which he also owns.

But Mr Wilkinson, of Sleightholmedale, near Helmsley, has hit back at the claims and has called into question the length of time it has taken for the villagers to consider putting in a bid.

He said: “Pubs are closing all over the place because they aren’t economically viable. Fadmoor has a population of less than 50 and it’s on the road to nowhere. I have had the business for 10 years and it has been making losses of between £10,000 and £25,000 a year and there just comes a point where you can’t keep throwing good money at it.

Mr Wilkinson, who according to the Sunday Times Rich List is worth more than £300m, added: “It has been on the market for eight months and nobody has even been to look at it. If it’s economically viable why didn’t they put in a bid months ago? It’s there and it’s for sale and if someone wants to buy it they can have it. If they want to waste their money then they should stop talking about it and put an offer in.”

Mr Wilkinson said the Royal Oak, which he claimed was only 800 yards away from the Plough, was more profitable as it had eight rooms to let and attracted passing trade from visitors heading to Farndale in the North York Moors National Park. “It comes to a point where I have to keep the one open that is economically viable,” he said.

The entrepreneur also said the villagers had not supported the pub during the time it remained open.

“None of the villagers ever came in, they were never there to support the business when it was struggling to make ends meet,” he said. “They never supported it when I kept it going for 10 years – I have blown around £250,000 on it. The main priority for me was that no one lost their jobs, and staff were moved 800 yards down the road to the Royal Oak.

“I have kept the business on for all that time and never seen a profit. I have kept it open for the community and tried to do my bit and all I have got is abuse for wasting £250,000. My conscience is clear the most important thing for me is safeguarding the jobs.”

Mr Wilkinson is best known as the architect of internet service provider Freeserve, an idea, legend has it, born on the back of a napkin on a train from London to York. He made millions during the dotcom boom, including selling internet hosting firm Planet Online to Energis and selling Sports Internet in May 2000 to BSkyB for a vast amount.

Businessman Jarvis Browning, who runs a camping and caravan site near the Plough, has backed the decision to put in a community bid.

He said: “It will be beneficial for the campsite as trade has definitely slowed down since the pub closed. Guests commented on the fact there was nowhere to have a drink or something to eat without having to worry about walking or driving anywhere.

“It will benefit everybody and will bring the village back to life if the bid gets accepted. Then we will all have something to work with and we can start buying community shares, which have been successful at other pubs nearby.”