A community group hoping to buy the pub which has been at the heart of its village has had its hopes dashed at the 11th hour.
Dismay, anger and disappointment surround the government's decision not to fund a project to bring a historic village pub back to life.
Situated at the heart of the North Pennines village of Nenthead, Cumbria, the Miners Arms served its community for nearly 200 years before closing in 2020.
It was hoped a bid for government funding would boost supporters’ efforts to save the remote pub, but the application was turned down.
Miners Arms Community Pub chair Simon Walker said he felt “disappointed, dismayed, angry, befuddled and bemused” over the government’s decision and said the group currently saw no possibility of raising enough money to reopen the pub.
“We really explored every possible avenue prior to this,” he said.
“We regret that the dream of returning the Miners Arms to its former glory is now in ashes. We will now start the process of winding up the community benefit society.”
Now, CAMRA is calling on the government to reintroduce a fund for community groups looking to take ownership of pubs.
The call comes after the existing fund, which helped people purchase their pub as a community-owned business, came to an end before Christmas 2024, when the final announcements on successful pubs was made and the Miners Arms was not included.
The Community Ownership Fund provided cash for groups to buy and run local facilities that would otherwise be sold, converted or demolished, including pubs.
CAMRA’s Planning Advisory Group chair Paul Ainsworth said thriving pubs at the heart of community life can be a key part of the government’s mission to have vibrant communities and thriving local economies.
Paul said: “Ministers have already announced they are going to introduce a community right to buy for assets like pubs that are under threat of closure or conversion. This is very welcome and is set to be a gamechanger for people wanting to save their pub.
“However, it is vital that as well as a right to buy community assets, groups can also access advice, support and funding to help make sure bids to take over pubs as community-owned businesses can be successful.”
Although the Miners Arms closed its doors in 2020, the present owner continues to operate an Airbnb from the premises.
Pictured: Miners Arms campaigners in happier times
