TARRINGTON Parish Council could find itself spearheading a £900,000 fund-raising drive to buy and save the village pub, The Tarrington Arms, for the community

The council has recently registered the pub as an 'asset of community value', which means Tarrington people would have a six month window to fund-raise and make an offer, if it looks as though the pub is in danger of being converted to another use.

The Tarrington Arms has been on the market as a going concern since April 2019, as a pub, and councillors are hopeful that it will find a new owner and continue as a pub.

But the fear is that a new owner might apply to the planning authority, Herefordshire Council, for change of use planning permission.

Cllr Robert Hodges, who has spearheaded a campaign to ensure the future of the Tarrington Arms, including organising a public meeting last autumn said he wasn't confident the money could be found from the community to buy and refurbish the pub, if that became necessary.

But he added: "If we need to, we'll try.

"The pub is extremely important to the village, especially because we've lost so many other services, including the police station, a baker and the the school.

"We are left with the church, the village hall and the pub."

The Tarrington Arms, which remains open, is on the market as a pub for £450,000.

But Cllr Hodges said the additional cost of refurbishment could push the cost of buying it and refurbishing it to £800,000 or even £900,000.

But there seems to be a great deal of public interest. The meeting organised last autumn by Cllr Hodges attracted a notably large attendance with over 50 local residents.

At the meeting, Cllr Hodges revealed that he has already identified a number of residents who could help with the proposed campaign.

But the council is hopeful it will not have to step in, if the right new owner can be found.

The Tarrington Arms is currently advertised on the Business For Sale site as "a main road substantial free house".

It offers over 6,600 square feet in "an elegant grade II listed building".

The property has two large bars, separate function/meeting room, five letting bedrooms, two other bedrooms, an owners' flat, and a separate three bedroom flat.

It also offers "extensive gardens and car parking".

And the Tarrington Arms is set in 0.71 of an acre.

Formerly called The Foley Arms, the red-brick Tarrington Arms dates back over two centuries, to the late Georgian period.

The Ledbury bus service, No 476, stops outside.