VILLAGERS in one North Herefordshire community are celebrating the success of a 25 month campaign to reclaim their village pub.

The Boot Inn in Orleton was shut in July 2017 by the then owner and had been put on the market for development until concerned villagers intervened.

Almost 300 investors raised enough funds to buy the pub and finance a much-needed refurbishment programme on the Grade II listed building.

Now, after an eight month programme of work, The Boot Inn is in the hands of experienced tenants, Chris and Hollie Thorpe and, to the delight of the village, opened its doors on August 29.

John Alderman, chair of the community benefit society, said: "It’s a day we have all been working towards and in due course, after things have had chance to settle, we plan to host a celebration event to thank all those involved."

This has only been possible through the investments made by the community and the hard work of volunteers who helped throughout the refurbishment. There was also generous support from The Pub is the Hub, Clay & Rock, CAMRA, Co-operative Community Finance, The Plunkett Foundation and Power to Change with the Key Fund who all helped with grants, support and donation of materials.

Once more, Orleton has The Boot Inn open at the heart of the village, a welcome refuge and friendly watering hole – definitely more than a Pub.

For more details on the community purchase of The Boot Inn visit www.thecommunitybootinn.co.uk – it is still possible to invest in this fantastic project and to support the development of this community resource.

For details of The Boot Inn itself please email info@bootinnorleton.co.uk or visit the Facebook page www.facebook.com/The-Boot-Inn-102024497844881/