Villagers split over scheme to use closed pub as education centre

Mark Branagan

LEADING businessman David Ross has divided residents of a picturesque Yorkshire village over moves to turn a former Egon Ronay-recommended pub restaurant into an educational centre for deprived youngsters.

The Milburn Arms in Rosedale Abbey, on the North York Moors, near Pickering, ceased trading in November 2008 after nearly a year in administration.

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Now Mr Ross, who owns the building, has offered the premises as a gift to the Havelock Academy in Grimsby, a charity which he sponsors through his London-based David Ross Foundation.

The Academy has about 1,000 students on its books from very deprived areas of Grimsby, including the East Marsh, Heneage and Old Clee communities.

Finance director Mark Ibbertson said: “Mr Ross has offered us the Milburn Arms to convert into an alternative base. It is a huge country pub with a two-storey annex. The idea is to send out students there a class at a time.”

It would be like a small boarding school for the students who came from some very deprived parts of Grimsby and would normally never have to chance to experience anything like it in an environment such as the North York Moors, he added.

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He underlined the Academy wanted to work with the village not against it. Students would get involved in community projects in the area.

When the former hotel was not being used by the students they would also look at commercial uses – such as hosting business seminars – to help the village economy.

The premises had been offered to the charity which obviously as an educational organisation could not consider operating it as a pub.

“The fact the place was closed down before it was offered to us suggests it was not viable and there are a couple of other pubs in the village as well,” he continued.

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But resident Annette Bray said: “One of my concerns is that most normal people would say it was a lovely idea. But that does not understand the full implications.

“The Milburn Arms has historically been such an important part of the local community. It’s been a destination pub and hotel. For residents, it has been for special events and a centre for the Rosedale Show.

“It is not just a nostalgic thing. It is a heart of the community and should stay that way.” The permanent loss of the pub and the trade it brought in would be a blow to local employment and businesses, which were already struggling.

Her husband Richard said: “It is the jewel in the crown of the village. It is a listed building, a major building, and part of the history of this village.”

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The former pub, recommended in the 1993 Egon Ronay Guide, as well as being starred by the AA and enjoyEngland.com, had signed photographs on the wall from the celebrities who had eaten there, he said.

However, other villagers were in favour of the scheme. Annie Wilkinson, of nearby Bank Farm, said: “”We have already gone down from four to two pubs in the village.

“I would rather see two that were successful and do not think we can support a third.

“Most people might want to see the Milburn Arms back. But people aren’t going out like they used to because they can’t afford it.

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“This scheme would bring business back into the village and I am sure there are plenty of kids in Grimsby who would enjoy it because there is so much for children to do here.”

Mr Ross, a member of the Ross Frozen Foods family, is one of Grimsby’s most famous sons and listed among the 100 most rich in the UK. The Carphone Warehouse co-founder is also owner of the Rosedale and Westerdale grouse moors.

A Foundation spokesman said Mr Ross had been trying ever since the Milburn Arms closed to try to keep it going as a pub.

“No one has come forward in all that time with anything approaching a viable plan to maintain it as a pub. It would be a waste to leave it empty,” he continued.

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“Mr Ross decided rather than it sitting empty it should be used to help people, and looked to the Academy he sponsors to take it over.”

n A public meeting involving local councillors and the Academy will be held at 6.30pm on February 22 at the Updale Reading Room in the village.