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.
