Community Group Triumphs in Saving 200-Year-Old Local Pub
Residents of Spennithorne unite to rescue their beloved pub from closure
Spennithorne, North Yorkshire, The Old Horn Inn, Community Group, Pub Saving Award
Spennithorne: A small village in North Yorkshire recently rallied together to save their cherished pub, The Old Horn Inn, from closing down. When the previous owners put up a closure sign in September 2022, the community knew they had to act fast.
With a park, school, and church, the pub was a vital part of village life. So, residents formed The Old Horn Community group to fight against a planning application that aimed to convert the pub into homes.
Leigh Carmichael, the group’s Vice President, shared how they worked to get the pub recognized as a ‘community asset.’ They discovered the pub needed more than just a fresh coat of paint; it had some serious structural issues.
By gathering support from locals through questionnaires, they created a solid plan. The community was eager to pitch in, and they even raised funds with the help of the Plunkett Foundation, which specializes in supporting rural businesses.
Thanks to a government scheme, they managed to secure the necessary funds to buy the pub, and by March 2023, their application was approved. The excitement continued as they received the keys in June 2023.
After months of hard work, they finally reopened The Old Horn Inn on May 21, 2024, with an official celebration on September 12. Leigh reflected on the journey, noting the challenges but also the friendships formed along the way.
The pub was later honored with the Pub Saving Award 2024, recognizing the community’s dedication to preserving a vital part of their heritage. Paul Ainsworth, the award coordinator, emphasized how important these efforts are for maintaining the sense of community that pubs provide.
Now, Spennithorne has a thriving hub where locals can gather, and the community is proud of what they’ve accomplished together.