Campaigners for Hull’s first community-owned pub win Pub Saving Awards
CAMRA has named the Hull Community Pub Society, who saved the New Clarence in Hull, as winners of its Pub Saving Awards 2025 - the first city pub to do so.
The New Clarence is Hull's first community-owned pub and is the first city centre pub to win CAMRA’s Pub Saving Awards. The high land value of high streets and city centres makes pubs an enticing target for greedy developers, and as a result, much harder for campaigners to save than their rural counterparts. The judges were incredibly impressed with the group’s achievement of saving the New Clarence.
The Pub Saving Awards celebrate communities who have rallied together to fight for their local, saving the pub from a grim fate of conversion or even demolition. The awards put these campaigns in the spotlight, inspiring others to investigate community ownership for their local.
After closing in 2023, developers submitted planning applications to convert the New Clarence to a House in Multiple Occupation. The Hull Community Pub Society was formed, fighting off the applications and subsequent appeals. They then raised almost £250,000 plus a £300,000 backing from the now discontinued Community Ownership Fund to buy the pub in February 2025.
Vital structural work to the roof was needed to make the building safe before opening, plus the kitchen and cellar were rebuilt, a new accessible toilet was installed, and the beer garden was transformed.
The New Clarence reopened its doors to its community 6 September 2025, serving eight cask beers and real ciders. The group looks to start work on fundraising to bring the function room back in to use, doubling its size, to give community groups a space to meet and hold events.
Simon Berry, Hull Community Pub Society Chair, said:
“We are absolutely delighted (and still a bit surprised!) to have won CAMRA’s Pub Saving Awards. The journey to get here has been a very interesting one - occasionally chaotic, often exhausting, but always worth it - and our vision finally became a reality in September when we threw the doors open to everyone.
“What’s been truly staggering is just how many people bought shares and got behind the whole concept. The support has been incredible. Without the Community Ownership Fund, our share buyers, generous donations and loyal shareholders, this simply would not have been possible.
“Now here we are serving great beer, good wines and proper food, in a pub that’s alive again. And none of it would work without the amazing team running the place day in, day out. They really are something special.
“Thank you to everyone who believed in it, backed it, and keeps coming through the door. Turns out saving a pub can be a team effort.”
Andy Currie, Hull and East Yorkshire Chair and Pub Data Coordinator added:
“Hull and East Yorkshire CAMRA members are delighted that the New Clarence has won this award. It is the result of a determined effort from local residents and the wider pub going community. The innovative approach of offering membership was taken up by a huge number of supporters, many of them CAMRA members, who saw the merits of being part of Hull’s first community owned pub. In fact, the success of the objection to the proposed conversion of the pub to an HMO was aided by the terrific support from CAMRA members at the local planning meetings.”
Joint runner ups were Ashton Hayes Community Hub Ltd, who rescued the Golden Lion in Ashton Hayes, Chester and the George Community Pub (Wickham Market) Ltd who campaigned for the George in Wickham Market, Suffolk.
Paul Ainsworth, Pub Saving Award Coordinator said:
“These community champions and heritage heroes deserve to be applauded. I continue to be amazed by the dedication and grit of these campaigners, who spend years or even decades campaigning to save pubs.
“However, if we want more communities to be able to do this, they need support from the government. The Community Ownership Fund provided cash for groups to take ownership and the running of community facilities that would otherwise be sold, converted or demolished. This was wound up by the government and has not been directly replaced. The forthcoming Right to Buy scheme must come alongside a dedicated programme of advice, guidance and funding to make sure community pubs go from strength to strength.”
The pub will be presented with the award at an event organised by the local CAMRA branch.
Ends
Notes to editors
Photos of the winners and runner ups: camra-stock.camra.org.uk/256263685/collection/114/pub-saving-award-2025
CAMRA has detailed guides and resources for anybody looking to save their local: camra.org.uk/save-your-local-pub
More information about the Pub Saving Awards: camra.org.uk/awards/pub-saving
More information about the New Clarence: hullcommunitypub.com
About CAMRA:
CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, is a not-for-profit UK consumer group.
We have been campaigning for pubs, pints and people since 1971.
Media Contact:
CAMRA Press Office:
01727 337863
