Village pub reopens after community raises £240,000
A village pub near Ludlow has reopened after a community raised enough money to buy it.
The Bell at Yarpole was packed with punters on the special opening night.
Over £240,000 was raised in community shares to help the Mortimer Community Benefit Society buy the pub on their behalf, just two days before it was due to go under the hammer at auction in August 2018.
Since then villagers have pitched in to help renovate the property and garden, by helping with repairing, decorating, digging and planting.
The Bell, now run by new tenants Caz Dare and Sally Milsom, hosts regular folk and quiz nights, live music performances and community groups.
Martin Flaherty, from the Mortimer Community Benefit Society, said: "Caz and Sally really impressed us with their experience, their welcoming and innovative attitude and their desire to work with us and the community to make the pub a long-term success.”
He also thanked the shareholders and those who gave generous loans as well as the hardworking volunteers and tradespeople who took part in reopening the pub in such a short period of time.
The society aims to raise more funds from donations and shares to help it make further improvements and pay off temporary loans.
