The Story of The George So Far

The story of our village pub in recent years has not been a happy one. It was once a successful and very popular ale house serving wholesome pub food, but after a succession of different landlords over the last 15 years it was taken in a different direction. The trade fell off markedly and eventually it became a restaurant only business and the village effectively lost it’s pub. 

The community decided to list The George as an Asset of Community Value which was subsequently granted. The restaurant business closed in 2023 after which the lease became null and void. The brewery, having taken back control, reopened The George under a temporary caretaker landlord and placed it on the open market for sale.

Under the terms of the ACV, this notification of intention to sell triggered a 6 week period for the community to consider its options. A meeting was held in June in the village hall which was packed out and a presentation about our various options was given about community ownership models and how they work.  A vote was proposed that the community should form a Society  to purchase the George and apart from one abstention the vote was unanimous.

The community voted to do so for 2 reasons. First was that we have nothing to lose even if we do not subsequently succeed and secondly, if we do succeed, bringing The George under the community’s ownership will ensure that it remains a public house accessible to both the local and the wider community of visitors to this really beautiful location.

The result is The George at Alstonefield Community Benefit Society Ltd, managed by an elected board with the purpose of raising the funds to purchase the George Pub from Marston Brewery.

The Society has been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority and we have launched our Share Ownership and Repayable Loan Schemes plus other fund raising efforts.

Our vision, business plan and an extensive Q&A section plus a share application form can be found on the Society Downloads Page. Please click on the menu above to access.

This is an ambitious task but with your help we can make this happen and secure this pub’s future for the benefit of all.