Northumberland community celebrates after securing…

Northumberland community celebrates after securing future of village pub by raising £200k

A remote north Northumberland community is celebrating after securing the future of its only pub by raising more than £200,000 to buy it.

The Fishers Arms dates back to 1760 and is the last remaining community asset in the village of Horncliffe on the Anglo-Scottish border. Horncliffe once had a shop, church and post office but lost all of them in years gone by, and there were fears that if the Fishers Arms closed, residents of Horncliffe and the surrounding villages would have nowhere to meet friends and be stuck at home.

However, a well-supported campaign which sold shares in the pub (and will continue to do so until October 31) ensured that the villagers could hold onto the Fishers Arms, and the previous owner handed over the keys on Friday July 29. And the next challenge is raising around £100,000 to go towards a refurbishment of the most northerly community-owned pub in England.

However, that shouldn't be as tricky as raising the original £200,000 for the purchase, and the community is intending to raise that figure through a combination of grants, fundraising and volunteer labour. Mo Kay, chairman of the Horncliffe Memorial Hall Committee and one of the campaigners who fought to save the pub, said: "We're in for lots and lots of grant applications which we're ready to push send on but obviously we couldn't do that until we owned the building."

But for now, Mo is enjoying the high that the village has got it's pub back - though the intention is to create something more inclusive than your average boozer. She continued: "It's amazing, we're very excited, it's going to be the heart of the community, most definitely."

The Fishers Arms at Horncliffe, which has been the subject of a £200,000 community buyout (Mo Kay)

"We've finally got somewhere to go back to meeting because at the minute we've only got the village hall, but that's for organised events. However, at the pub people will be able to just drop in any time they want and can meet their mates spontaneously."

Before the Fishers Arms closed its doors at the beginning of November 2021, it offered pensioners' lunches and hosted a darts team, dominoes club, and the curiously named Horncliffe Hookers (who make rag rugs). And there are plans to welcome those groups back, as well as creating an Alzheimer's café and perhaps even a toddler club.

Morris Dancers outside of the Fishers Arms (Mo Kay)

Mo continued: "We intend to stay open all day even if it's just toasties and a baked potato for the walkers (Horncliffe is on the proposed River Tweed Trail). It's going to be inclusive so that people can come and help and stamp their bit on it because they've all invested in it, so hopefully it'll be better supported."

While the Fishers Arms is unarguably a traditional country pub, its new owners are also looking towards the future. Mo added: "We want to make it as eco as possible with solar panels and getting it much better insulated.

"It's going to look traditional and support local industries and stock local beers. Hopefully it'll make a few jobs for the kids too, cleaners and barmen and what have you - all ages have a part to play."

The buyout of the Fishers' Arms has had some high profile supporters including Robson Green, Hairy Biker Si King, Rod Clements and Steve Daggett from rock band Lindisfarne, and actor Kevin Whately. Mo ended: "The Buyout Committee would like to thanks everyone who has supported this campaign by buying shares, donating and giving up their time to help.

"We would also like to thank our fantastic celebrities Robson Green, Si King, Lindisfarne and Kevin Whately for getting us the publicity we needed to keep our campaign alive."