The award-winning community owned and run pub, The Pheasant at Neenton near Bridgnorth in Shropshire has opened a children’s community play area with support from rural pub champions, Pub is The Hub.
Neenton residents purchased their derelict village pub in December 2013 and since then have gone on to create a thriving and successful community asset attracting 75% of its business from outside the area. They offer drinks, food and have accommodation in three en-suite rooms endorsed by Alistair Sawday and Trip Advisor. They have just won the Sawday’s Community Pub of the Year 2016.
In common with their goals to provide valuable resources for the village and surrounding area, Neenton Community Society set about creating a community play area in the garden of the pub. With advice and a grant from Pub is The Hub’s Community Services Fund of £4,000 and donations from locals and free labour, they have created a safe, fun area for families.
Not all of the grant was spent on the play area and there are plans in place to set up a parcel drop off and collection facility at the pub. The grant will also provide a laptop and related equipment to set up an internet help point so local people without internet facilities or expertise can access the wide range of goods, services and information.
John Pickup, Chairman of the Neenton Community Society said: “We were thrilled to have the support from Pub is The Hub in supporting our ideas. In fact Pub is The Hub gave us lots of food for thought and has some superb examples on their website.
“We’ve provided tables and seating next to the play area so parents can enjoy a drink or a bite to eat while the children play and families and children can access our new community play area whether the pub is open or not. We had a brilliant and very well-attended family fun day on bank holiday Monday to celebrate.”
John Longden, Chief Executive of Pub is The Hub attended the launch at the family fun day and commented: “The community here in Neenton have achieved that very difficult task; a highly successful and well-operated pub business hand in hand with essential support for local residents. It is testimony to what a marvellous group of people committed to very hard work can achieve.”
The photograph above shows: Bobbie Jarvis, Secretary of Neenton Community Society, John Longden from Pub is The Hub and John Pickup, Chair of Neenton Community Society
