Shropshire village fighting back after closure of pub

High Ercall residents claim the closure of The Cleveland Arms has torn the heart out of the community.

It shut earlier this year due to dwindling trade.

But they are bouncing back by holding bar nights at the village hall instead.

Around 15 regulars are making use of the hall amenity that is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 7pm to 11pm.

Tipples served include real ales brewed in Shropshire, beer and lager.

A monthly classic car gathering is also held in the grounds and is boosting support for the community enterprise.

Chairman of High Ercall Village Hall Committee David Heath said: "A lot of people are upset about the closure of the public house, but we don't want to give the impression that we are dead and buried in High Ercall, because we are very much alive and kicking.

"When the pub closed the regulars inquired if we had a drinks' licence and when they found out that we did they asked us to consider providing a bar a couple of nights a week so they have somewhere on the doorstep to go to socialise instead of having to drive out of the village.

"Around 15 regulars come up to the village hall Fridays and Saturdays and occasionally on Wednesdays we host vintage car nights. About 70 turn up to that for a couple of hours and a burger van supplies the food for them. We organise a raffle in aid of the Child Diabetic Society that raises about £120. This event was held at Long Lane petrol station until recently when the owner was unable to carry on.

"I feel that we are providing a good service for the community."

It is the best thing that has happened in High Ercall."

Mr Heath said that the village's post office that shut two months ago has also been given a home at the Park Lane premises and is being run by Waters Upton Stores.

"It was previously operating from a business, in Shop Road, but the owner said due to online banking it was not attracting enough customers and he had no option but to close. Some people were crying out for a post office so we agreed that they could set up here," Mr Heath said.

The Cleveland Arms in High Ercall, near Telford, shut its doors earlier this year despite a refurbishment project costing thousands of pounds.

Its owners now hope to fit a new roof as part of plans to secure the site's future. and say a fence installed at the front of the building is there on safety grounds.