An iconic Grade-II listed pub has announced its much-anticipated reopening date. The Hop Pole Inn, nestled in the quaint village of Limpley Stoke near Bath, is gearing up to welcome patrons once again on Saturday, January 25, marking a nearly three-year journey since locals rallied together to amass nearly £400,000 to preserve the establishment.
The pub declared on social media: “Our beautiful Hop Pole Inn is very close to opening. The date is set for 25 January.”
The Hop Pole Inn closed in 2018 and had been due to be sold to housing developers before being bought by the Limpley Stoke Community Benefit Society in 2022, which was given six weeks to raise £370,000.
The village venue, described as “the beating heart of the community”, is the last surviving pub in Limpley Stoke. Residents launched the Save the Hop Pole Inn campaign as the pub came under threat of permanent closure when plans were considered to turn it into a residential redevelopment.
(Image: Bath Chronicle)
The Hop Pole Inn, with its origins tracing back to 1580 and a feature in the award-winning film ‘The Remains of the Day’, had fallen on hard times. Upon purchase, campaigners found the pub plagued by dry rot, mould, and structurally unsound beams.
Locals from the Save the Hop Pole campaign had to establish their own “scrounging teams,” encouraging villagers to contribute materials and resources that were much needed. In November 2023, Save the Hop Pole committee member Jessica Lloyd-Smith spoke to ITV West Country, saying: “Without the pub the village is a collection of houses. With a pub in it, it gives it back its heart again so that is what we are really hoping to do.”
The announcement of the new tenants on 19 December introduced Charlie Rawlings and Hannah Randall as the faces of the future for The Hop Pole Inn. Shared via the pub’s social channels: “Behind every good pub is a great landlord. And we have got not one but two!”
Further detailed by the pub’s account: “The team selected Charlie, an exceptional chef, and Hannah, the front of house ray of sunshine, with help from industry experts and glowing references, to run the pub and help us all put the heart back into the community.”
Elaborating on the duo’s impact and preparation, it continued: “So many of us have been working closely with them already and they are well and truly a vital part of the team. They have been hard at work grafting on the interiors and gardens, finalising marketing and branding plans, and selecting staff and suppliers.”
Moreover, their expertise is highlighted: “They bring with them a wealth of experience in hospitality and have exciting plans to bring to the pub. We love them and we know you will too.”
Thanks to over £1.2 million secured through various methods, including National Lottery Awards, local fundraisers, and government grants, the Hop Pole Inn is set to welcome patrons again in the new year.
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