Locals who launched a bid to save their pub after it was shut down are raising a glass as an offer to buy it has been accepted.

The Crown Inn, in the village of Grewelthorpe near Masham in North Yorkshire, was shut in February 2023 by owners Admiral Taverns when the pub group decided to sell.

But the 1800s pub was listed as an ‘Asset of Community Value’, meaning it could not be sold for six months when bids could only be accepted from community groups. Punters set up the Friends of the Crown Ltd (FOTC) hoping to save the boozer.

Last week it had an offer accepted, subject to funding, putting the pub on track to reopen.

Darlington and Stockton Times:

In a bid to secure all of the funding it needs, FOTC has submitted an application to the Community Ownership Fund – a £150m government fund to support communities take ownership of local assets at risk of being lost.

Martin Glynn, local resident and chairman of FOTC, said: “We just want our pub back in Grewelthorpe, and this week has seen us make big strides to achieving that.

“The Crown Inn sits at the heart of our village, we want to ensure it remains part of our local community for many years to come.

“Ultimately the goal is to reopen the pub to strengthen community relationships, support the local economy and attract visitors to our lovely village.

“‘The fund opened this time around with a much shorter window than anybody anticipated so it was a huge amount of work to get our bid ready, but we managed it - with an hour to go.”

The group has been trying to raise £250,000 through a community share offer where residents and businesses can buy shares.

Historically The Crown Inn has served both local residents and visitors to the area, including walkers exploring the renowned Hackfall Woods which were designed in the 1730s by the Aislabies, who created the water gardens at Fountains Abbey.

The pub had been owned by Marston’s and was bought by Admiral Taverns in 2019 along with 136 other pubs nationwide, in a deal said to be worth £44.9m.