Locals in Hampton have joined together in a campaign to buy their local pub, which has been shuttered since its landlord died over a year ago.
The Railway Bell, known affectionately as the Dip, is owned by Stonegate Group – the largest owner of pubs in the country – and has been put on the market for £1m.
Hampton locals are battling for ownership of their pub at a time when more British pubs are closing than ever before this century – with more than 500 having shuttered so far this year.
Stonegate acquired ownership of the pub in 2020 and the lease reverted to the corporation when publican Seamus O’Kane died in April last year.
The Railway Bell was opened in 1864, shortly after the Hampton railway line was built, and served the workers who lived near the station.
More than 150 years later, Hampton locals warn that this history could be lost forever.
Robert Lee, chairman of the Save the Dip campaign, said: “It’s been a thriving part of the community for many years.
“We’ve got well over 400 local supporters who are really keen to get this reopened.”
Those supporters formed a community benefit society and are planning to raise funds to buy the lease from Stonegate.
Tony Jacques, chair of the fundraising and planning committee, said: “What we’re going to have to do, through our marketing group, is reach out to everybody in the community and more or less turn them upside down and shake them until all the money falls out of their pockets.”
The campaign has been working with Plunkett UK, a community ownership charity, who say more communities are trying to take over their pubs at a time when the hospitality sector is struggling.
A recent Plunkett report found 205 community-run pubs, breweries and distilleries are currently operating in the UK, with a further 460 being set up.
The charity is calling on the government to support community ownership by creating a fund to support these projects and introducing fairer taxation for community businesses.
David Lydiat, head of external affairs at Plunkett, said: “There’s obviously an economic decline but although the community ownership model can save that […] it’s far more than that.
“What Plunkett and the community ownership model does is really emphasise the social impact and benefit of pubs.”
Stonegate PLC was contacted for comment.
Featured image credit: Felix Armstrong
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