Major step forward in bid to save Collingham's community pub Royal Oak

Campaigners who have clubbed together to revive an historic village pub as a community asset are celebrating the release of funding and the start of building works to provide a new-look pub and bistro.

More than190 people from Collingham and the surrounding area – plus one from Australia – have so far contributed £210,000 by becoming shareholders in a Community Benefit Scheme (CBS) to put the Royal Oak back on the map as a destination pub and bistro restaurant.

"We have already reached the milestone to trigger the release of funds to start building works," said campaigner Mr Alvin Wiggins. Shareholder funds have now been topped up by £100,000 in Government grants and loans, arranged through the 'More Than A Pub' programme by the Plunkett Foundation, a charity set up to help community-led village stores and pubs.

Project leaders want to attract still more shareholders to meet start-up costs, and with the ultimate aim of raising the capital to buy the pub outright. The building is currently leased to them by owners Lincolnshire Co-op,who have also been generous supporters. "People may have held back but they will see that it's happening and now is the chance to join in. We are all now shareholders in a pub – who'd have thought? But it's a nice thing to be involved with, and it's not difficult."

Shares cost £50 each, with a minimum stake of £250. Lincolnshire Co-op has bought £20,000-worth as well as contributing £25,000 towards the rebuild. Local firm Gusto Construction has agreed to do the £350,000 refurbishment at cost. And you don't have to live in Collingham to buy shares: "We've got shareholders from Newark, Balderton, Lincoln – we've even got someone from Australia, a friend of a friend who knew the village."

Mr Wiggins and fellow-campaigners are elated at the prospect of saving an historic local landmark and providing the village with an attractive new venue. Mr Chris Allen, who has been involved in the scheme from the outset, said: "It's been 16 months of hard work and we're still on a high from it.We've just overcome the first hurdle really, reaching the target for the (Plunkett) funds to be released and getting the lease signed."

Improvements to the 250-year-old pub involve stripping out the kitchen to enlarge the restaurant, creating space for about 40 covers. A new kitchen will be built plus a new toilet block, both bars will be refurbished, the garden will receive a make-over and new screening will provide a more private area for outside diners and smokers. "We hope we will be able to do weddings by having a marquee," said Mr Allen.

Mr Wiggins said the team was fortunate in drawing on the expertise of local resident Sarah Halpin, who works in the pub trade: "Sarah is a business development executive who oversees 17 pubs and a number of these have been refurbished, so we're confident it's going to be viable.

"Running it as a community pub gives us another angle. Every shareholder will be keen to support it... We're looking at all the community features that can make it 'more than a pub'. There's a large meeting room upstairs for organisations or for small parties, wakes and local clubs.

"We're also looking to do things for the elderly – coffee mornings, afternoon teas, OAP lunches, in association with Collingham Village Care.

Chris Allen added: "Pubs were always social hubs, so we're putting even more of an accent on that as it has to be a community asset."

Refurbishment work is expected to take around six months to complete.

James Alcock , Executive Director at Plunkett Foundation, said: “We’re so pleased to be able to support the Royal Oak who are working hard to make sure their community can benefit from everything that having a thriving local pub brings. According to CAMRA, 18 pubs are closing each week. In comparison, community pubs have a 100% survival rate, showing that they are so much more than a place to buy a drink; they provide important social spaces and services for local people and are central to their community’s sense of place and identity.”