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Newtown-in-St-Martin pub reopens after community campaign

BBC Busy pubBBC
There was a good turn out for the reopening on Friday

A historic pub in Cornwall has reopened after more than two years of campaigning by villagers to buy it.

The Prince of Wales in Newtown-in-St-Martin, south Cornwall, had been closed since November 2020.

Campaigners raised about £500,000 to enable the watering hole, near Helford, to become a community-owned pub.

Main sources of funding for it came from the government's Community Ownership Fund, the Plunkett Foundation and a share offer.

Viki Carpenter, from the campaign group, said the change of ownership made it Britain's southernmost community pub.

First drink
The first drink was served to local tree surgeon, Ben Rampley

"It's been a big journey … it's taken two-and-a-half years and the biggest thing we've had to battle throughout that time is keeping people's hope alive and saying, 'Yes we can do it'. You just have to take the next little step," she told BBC Radio Cornwall.

"It's because the community have come together in such a great way we actually have done it. It's amazing."

Google Prince of Wales pub in Newtown-in-St-MartinGoogle
Campaigners spent more than two years raising money to save the pub, which had closed in November 2020

There are plans in place for a range of activities, including clubs for carers, coffee mornings for older people and digital education sessions.

New landlord David Lambrick said: "We are really looking forward to it, and to taking the pub forward."

Landlord
New landlord David Lambrick has been enjoying pulling the pints on the first night

Ms Carpenter said the pub will become a "community hub".

"In St Martin we've lost our school, our shop and our garage - it's the last community asset," she added.

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