A community buyout bid has been launched to save an historic Eden pub.
The Mardale Inn at Bampton, near Shap, has been closed for the last three years, but now a group of impassioned locals have got together to form a steering group to save their favourite hostelry.
“While our quiet Cumbrian valley is endowed with stunning landscape, a church and a shop, it today lacks an essential component of a thriving English community — a pub,” said Phil Sweetland, of the Bampton Valley Community Pub steering committee.
From February, supporters will have the chance to buy shares, costing £100 each, to help bring the much-loved pub back to life.
Phil said: “This project gives locals and passionate pub lovers the opportunity to guide the ownership of a piece of living history and reinstate a cracking pub in a stunning valley.
“The Mardale Inn will again be a vibrant base for the local community – as well as offering a friendly welcome to visitors.”
During the course of its 150-year history, the pub has previously been known as St Patrick’s Well or locally, the Bampton Jerry, and it has been indicated that there may be a chance for those who take a stake in it to vote on whether it should revert back to being called by its historical name.
Throughout the course of its life, the pub has acted as a community hub, serving the villages of Bampton, Bampton Grange, Burnbanks, Butterwick, Knipe and Rosgill and in its hay day enjoyed an enviable reputation for its well-priced food, live music, roaring fires and warm welcome.
“Perhaps now, more than ever, we have all become acutely aware of the importance of community, given the companionship, support and fun which it can deliver,” said Phil.
But, in order to save a pub for the valley, he added: “We will need hundreds of individuals, from the valley and beyond, to invest and become members of our Community Benefit Society (CBS).
“Whether you know the Valley and ‘The Mardale’ or ‘St Patrick’s Well’ from local connections, or you have visited due to your love of Wainwright, Withnail and I, our abundant wildlife or just our friendly folk, we want you to join and feel part of this journey with us.”
Although the primary aim of the project is centred around preserving rural heritage, Phil said this was not about collecting donations from people – there was also a chance for investors to enjoy a reasonable three per cent rate of interest after a period of about three years.
To date, nearly £160,000 has been pledged in support of saving the pub and Phil hopes that when the share offer opens in early February that those pledges turn into sums of cash.
One famous supporter is Terry Abraham, an award-winning Eden Valley based filmmaker.
He said: “Pubs are the beating hearts of rural communities and especially so in Cumbria. Within them, locals mix with visitors, local breweries thrive with their wares, local farms supply food with genuine provenance and minimal food miles.
“You can meet, catch up, share gossip, have a crack and connect on so many levels – with a beer in hand or not.
“Bampton Valley is a wee gem of Cumbria like many places within the county.
“I’m supporting friends and locals to raise awareness of their campaign and help preserve a beautiful, traditional Cumbrian pub and ensure its long term future as a community-owned asset.”
If all goes well, it’s hoped the pub could be back open to public in summer, 2022.
