The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has announced the Old Horn Community Pub Society who saved the Old Horn Inn (above) in Spennithorne, North Yorkshire, as the winner of the prestigious Pub Saving Award 2024.
The Pub Saving Award recognises people that have come together to save a pub that would have otherwise been demolished or converted to another use. It aims to secure publicity for pub-saving campaigns to encourage others to save their local.
The Old Horn Inn, a pub over 200 years old, closed suddenly in 2022 with planning application submitted to convert it into housing. As a vital community hub for the people of Spennithorne and Harmby, plus surrounding areas of North Yorkshire, villagers banded together to form the Old Horn Community Pub Society to protect the pub from this fate.
An epic campaign began to bring the Old Horn into community ownership, raising £180,000 from over 140 investors in under two months. On 16 June 2023, the community became the proud owners of the Old Horn.
What followed was a mammoth renovation effort, enlisting a team of volunteers, ranging from teenagers to pensioners. Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak even visited to encourage the team’s endeavours.
The pub reopened to the public 21 May 2024, putting the heart back into the village, providing a community hub to combat social exclusion. The pub now hosts the village football, cricket, darts and dominoes teams, plus quiz nights, coffee mornings and a knit and natter group.
Richard Wortley, Chairman of The Old Horn Community Pub Society said:
“This is a perfect example of what can be achieved when a community joins together in a common aim. A lot of people said when the pub closed it took the heart out of the village, now it’s back. Huge thanks go to our members, volunteers and committee for all their hard work.”
Alan Cape, Treasurer of the Old Horn Community Pub Society added:
“We had tremendous support from shareholders, volunteers and wonderful local tradesmen who gave their time either at reduced rates or free of charge. We cannot thank them enough for their generosity.”
Runner-up in the Pub Saving Award 2024 was the Roxwell Chequers Community Benefit Society who were successful in saving the Chequers Inn in Roxwell, Essex, which had been closed since January 2020 and under threat of being converted to housing.
Pub Saving Award Coordinator Paul Ainsworth said:
“When a pub closes, it is incredibly hard to open the doors again, with many losing the battle to conversion or demolition. That is why these awards are so important, the hard work and dedication shown by these campaigns to save local pubs deserve recognition. They are all inspirational stories, that will hopefully encourage more pub saving campaigns, so future generations can enjoy the wonderful sense of community that only a pub can provide.
“2024 marked the one-year anniversary of the wanton destruction of the Crooked House pub in Himley, serving as a grim reminder that pubs in the wrong hands can sadly disappear. January is a tough time for pubs, so please make sure to support your local and seek out beautiful heritage pubs across the UK.”
The pubs will be presented with the award at forthcoming events organised by the respective local CAMRA branches in early 2025.
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Notes to editors
For photos, contact press@camra.org.uk
CAMRA has detailed guides and resources for anybody looking to save their local here: camra.org.uk/save-your-local-pub
More information about the Pub Saving Award can be found here: camra.org.uk/awards/pub-saving?selected_year=2024
Find out more about the Old Horn here: oldhorncommunity.org
More information about the Chequers Inn here: savethechequersroxwell.co.uk
