Villagers celebrate purchasing local pub

The Friends of the Fox Inn said a lot of work would need doing before the pub could reopen

A community group has exchanged contracts on a Shropshire village pub which has been closed since 2022.

People living in Ryton want to reopen The Fox Inn with spokesperson Dave Wright saying "a good few of us met last night to have a drink," after the legal paperwork was completed.

The Friends of the Fox Inn also want to use the venue as a cafe, shop, parcel and prescription hub and internet provision for the community.

Their next job is to repair and refit the building and they hope to open it in November.

Mr Wright said: "There's lots of work to do in the pub, its an old building and it's sat empty for over two-and-a-half years."

He said it was likely the roof would need to be replaced and work would also have to be done to make the first floor accommodation suitable for the new landlord and his family.

On top of that, he said the bar area needed a "spruce up" and the kitchen would need to be refitted.

The pub was on the market for £395,000, but Mr Wright said the total cost of the project would be closer to £500,000.

The villagers received £300,000 from the government to help them achieve their goal and £150,000 has been raised so far from a share issue, which continues until the end of the month.

Dave Wright said there was a small celebration when the news came through

Mr Wright said when the news of the purchase came through "everyone's phones were on fire" and they all met up at the house of one of the committee members to celebrate.

He said "people are really keen to get the pub back open" and it was now their goal to get it open in time for the busy Christmas season.