White Horse pub in Norfolk pleas for community to club together

Steve Walsh has taken over as the new chairman of the community trust which runs the White Horse pub in Upton

Concerned villagers have launched a £25,000 fundraising campaign to save a pub once visited by King Charles III.

The White Horse in Upton, near Acle in Norfolk, has been run by residents since 2012 when it was bought by a community trust to stop it closing.

But the White Horse Development Trust said poor weather last summer dented its finances.

"It's no secret the hospitality sector is struggling," said new trust chairman Steve Walsh.

"There are just a culmination of things that are bringing the pub down over a period of time."

'Social hub'

Mr Walsh said about £25,000 was needed to keep the venue, thought to be Norfolk's oldest community pub, open during the next business quarter.

The White Horse is about two miles from the nearest town with no regular bus route.

"The village and community have all been incredibly supportive - there's a real drive behind it," said Mr Walsh, speaking to BBC Radio Norfolk.

"It is the centrepiece of the village - some of the people, I'm not quite sure how they'd cope.

"It's a real social hub for them - it would really be heartbreaking."

Upton's community-run pub and shop received the royal seal of approval when the King visited back in 2016

In 2015, a neighbouring building was converted into a shop, operated mostly by volunteers.

The-then Prince Charles popped in for a pint a year later after two schemes he supported made grants to the trust.

Mr Walsh added: "If we can get beyond this sticky patch, so we can put these plans into action, this pub will survive and it will thrive."