A community-run pub has held a celebratory event as it marks 10 years since the village took over.
On Saturday, June 21, The Dog Inn, in Belthorn, marked the occasion with a free buffet for members and villagers as well as a children’s entertainer.
Enterprise Inns closed the pub in November 2014, meaning the village lost its only remaining boozer.
With no other facilities in the village, Belthorn residents were left with nowhere to meet and socialise, so they decided to try and buy the pub to re-open under community ownership.
Despite the pub initially being sold to a contractor, residents in the village asked if they could buy it from him, which he agreed to with a tight two-month deadline.
After fundraising, a share offer was launched and the money was successfully raised with the village buying the pub in 2015, which was followed by a refurbishment period.
Chair Dave Hollings said: “Ten years ago, the community of Belthorn faced a bleak future with no pub in the village.
“But we refused to just accept this. Instead, 10 years later, Belthorn still has The Dog Inn as the beating heart of community life in the village.”
The pub is now run by a volunteer board and has more than 100 members and shareholders.
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Since then, The Dog has gone from strength to strength and has become hugely popular for its food, which is run by Jamie Evans and serves up to 500 people each week.
Jamie’s approach to cooking has received recognition for its complete lack of food waste.
The pub also hosts a coffee shop, an essentials shop and a community meeting room.
Over the summer, there are several celebrations planned, which include live music, a hypnotist, a comedy night, a dog show and an Oompah night.
The Dog Inn is open Wednesday to Saturday between noon and 8pm, and Sundays between noon and 6.30pm.
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