Villagers raised £241,000 to save a historic Yorkshire pub closed since 2019, then secured another £241,000 in government funding to buy it

A historic pub in North Yorkshire, closed in 2019, was brought into community ownership after villagers raised £241,000 and secured matching government funding to buy it. The Black Lion in Skelton-on-Ure, near Boroughbridge, became the focus of a local campaign to protect the building and restore its role in village life.Residents secured Asset of Community Value status in September 2022 before purchasing the pub in March 2024. The refurbishment included a renovated bar, a new cellar and a community café. As the project neared completion in June 2025, the committee began searching for a tenant to run the pub.According to Harrogate News (UK), their efforts helped secure Asset of Community Value status for the pub in September 2022. This enabled the committee to purchase the Black Lion in March 2024. The refurbishment included a new bar, cellar and community café, with the project moving into its final phase.How villagers raised £241,000 to save the historic pubThe Black Lion closed in 2019 after Admiral Taverns shut the historic pub. After the building had remained closed for several years, residents organised a campaign to save it. They formed a committee and worked towards securing community ownership of the village pub. In September 2022, the Black Lion was granted Asset of Community Value status, marking an important stage in the campaign.The community then raised £241,000 through shareholder funding, with support from residents and people beyond the village. The Government’s Community Ownership Fund matched the amount raised, providing additional funding for the purchase. This enabled the committee to buy the Black Lion in March 2024, bringing the building into community ownership after years of efforts to secure its future.Government funding helped the community purchase the Black LionThe £241,000 raised through community shareholder funding was matched by the Government’s Community Ownership Fund. This funding allowed the committee to purchase the Black Lion in March 2024. The acquisition marked the transition from the campaign to save the pub to the work of restoring it. After the purchase, the committee began a full refurbishment of the building.The project also involved converting part of the pub into a community café and village hub. This became the first phase of the redevelopment and opened just before Christmas. The community-owned building was being developed to serve residents and visitors to the surrounding area. The purchase and refurbishment formed the central stages of the villagers’ efforts to bring the pub back into use.The pub's refurbishment included a new bar and community caféThe refurbishment included a fully renovated bar and a new cellar serving traditional and modern ales. Part of the building was also converted into a community café and village hub, which opened just before Christmas as the first phase of the redevelopment. The café catered to residents, cyclists, walkers and tourists visiting nearby Newby Hall.Work also continued on the outdoor areas, with plans for a large event space, a sunken beer garden and a five-pitch touring caravan site. The landscaping was also set to include a wildlife area designed to enhance biodiversity. These additions formed part of the wider project to restore the Black Lion and develop its facilities for the community and visitors.Historic Yorkshire pub sought a tenant after community-funded revivalThe Black Lion’s refurbishment was nearing completion, and the project was moving into its final phase. The committee was searching for a tenant to take on the pub’s lease. The Black Lion was set to remain a free house. Mike Ramshaw of Skelton Black Lion Community Pub & Hub said the work had been achieved through thousands of volunteer hours, reflecting the commitment of the local community.He described the pub as more than a business, calling it a symbol of local pride and perseverance. The search for a tenant marked the next stage in the building’s revival after its closure in 2019, the community fundraising campaign, and the purchase in March 2024.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.