Community fails to raise funds to buy village pub

A community's bid to buy its local pub has failed after fundraisers only managed to raise less than a quarter of the required sum in time.

Funds donated by residents to purchase the Cross Guns in Pant, Shropshire, and turn it into a community hub would now be returned, organisers said.

"We always knew £348,000 from a community like Pant was going to be a big ask, and we really want to say a massive 'thank you' to everyone who invested and shared our vision," the Cross Guns Community Benefit Society wrote in a message on social media.

They said investments totalling £75,000 would be returned to everyone concerned by the beginning of May.

The 200-year-old pub shut last October, with owner Admiral Taverns stating it did not have a "long-term sustainable future".

It was registered as a community asset and the group of locals took on the task of raising the necessary funds within six months to prevent it being put on the open market.

The moratorium period ended on Monday, "which means that the pub can now be sold to anyone - not just a community business", their message explained.

"Although we have had a massive £75,000 contribution from the local community, we are still a long way off our target to make a viable bid to buy the Cross Guns for the community," the statement continued.

The group said they had not heard about any prospective purchases, and there would be a further update at the annual parish meeting at Pant Memorial Hall at 19:30 BST on Thursday.

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