To 'Save Our Pub' we decided to fight the property developers that had bought our pub behind our back from Wadworth's Brewery.

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The campaign was launched by what would beceome the  South Moreton Community Benefit Society  (‘SMCBS’). In January 2018 at a highly successful Meeting and Social, held at a barn on Hall Farm,  Jo Rolfe and Tristram Kendall laid out the situation as it was along with a vision of what could be if we rallied together as a community.
 

Following the meeting a Press Release was issued, with some success. Our campaign came to attention of a documentary-maker at the BBC and over several months, they filmed our events and critical campaign points. The result was ‘One Day That Changed Their Lives’, a compendium of many community-led initiatives, aired in 2019 on BBC1.

 

In April 2018 another event was held, again at Hall Farm Barn, to announce the result of our share offer; Paul Jackson revealed to the audience of more than 100 villagers (and the BBC cameras) we now had more than 130 shareholders and that our target for community investment of £230,000 had been hit!.

 

Ulrika Jonsson  got behind our campaign too, stating “I firmly believe in the importance of keeping local community venues open, especially in rural villages like South Moreton. This meeting was obviously a tremendous success. The number of local people attending, showing their enthusiasm and commitment, and sharing a wonderful social event together was truly heart-warming. It would be great to have a pub here again and, as a Celebrity Masterchef finalist, I’m keen to advise on the menu!” 

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We should take a moment here to thank The Plunkett Foundation (dedicated to revitalising rural communities), who helped and supported us throughout our campaign.

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The Share Offer and Business Plan launched in March 2018 and come April 2018 an offer of £365,000 was submitted to the developers to purchase The Crown.

This was rejected. But we didn’t give up…

 

SMCBC successfully applied for grants from South Oxfordshire District Council and More than a Pub, as well as taking our a small mortgage.  In June 2018 our improved purchase offer of £390,000 was formally accepted by the developers. At last - The Crown was ours, back in heart of the Community!

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Following the purchase, work started on getting the pub back into tip-top shape straight away. After 30 years of little or no investment from the brewery, the task was huge: two new roofs, a new bar, two log burners, a brand new cellar and many  kitchen appliances  were all needed, plus a full refurb/redecoration throughout. This was achieved largely by the help and support of a dedicated band of volunteers and local businesses. Our ‘Frame of Fame’ (just inside the entrance to the Crown) shows those who went above and beyond.

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Brilliantly, our pub won CAMRA’s ‘Pub of the Year’ for Oxfordshire in 2022 and for South Oxfordshire for 2025 too. Well done to our Landlady Di and her team.

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If your village is in our situation, remember: brewers and developers depend solely on inertia to get their plans through. If you organise and show you won’t back down, they may back off and move on to easier prey… so FIGHT! Please feel free to contact the SMCBS Committee if you need any help or advice.