South Shropshire community pub looking for new landlord

For the past nine years the Crown Inn at Clunton has been run by local couple Andy and Della Peers and in that time has won a raft of awards and cemented a reputation for food and ale.

But now the Peers family are looking to move on, and the community group that saved the pub from closure is seeking someone to take up the baton and keep the business thriving.

Steve Burge is a director of Clun Valley Investments, a company set up by residents who banded together to rescue their local about 20 years ago.

He said: "It was saved by members of the community when it went to the wall. Over the years tenants have come and gone but we've got two tenants now who have made a great success of the pub for the past nine years.

"It's been in the Good Beer Guide continuously since 2012 and a runner-up in the Rural Pub of the Year category in CAMRA’s regional competition for the past two years.

"It attracts people from a wide area because of it's excellent reputation for food. You could have up to 130 people coming out for fish and chips on a Friday night, which for a rural pub is excellent." But, he said, Andy and Della had given their notice as they were looking for new challenges.

"They will be leaving the hospitality business, they're moving on because of a change in circumstances and they want what is best for their family at the moment," he said.

"The whole community will be sorry to see them go, but they will be staying locally so the Crown will become their local – so they want to see it continue its success as much as anyone.

"The village and people in the community are looking for someone to take it on.

"Ideally the people we're looking for would be another family or couple with a chef patron who runs it for food but has an interest in the pub business."

The pub has a bar, dining room, games room, equipped kitchen and toilets, with a three-bedroom tenant's flat, with lounge bathroom and kitchenette.

It is also host to teams playing in local leagues including two pool teams, two darts teams and dominoes.

Anyone interested in applying can contact Mr Burge on 01588 673107 or email crownclunton@gmail.com