Community-bought Framsden pub unveils new name

Julia Green (left) said the village needed to raise £250,000 to refurbish the pub

Villagers have raised a glass to launch their community pub's new name.

The Framsden Greyhound, in Framsden, Suffolk, was previously called The Doberman Inn and has been closed for the last seven years.

After receiving a grant from the government's Community Ownership Fund (COF), villagers bought and have begun to restore the premises.

Brian Cox, one of the directors, said: "We want to preserve this lovely old building, which we're very proud of."

The Grade II-listed building has operated as a pub since the 1700s, having historically been used for auctions and coroner's inquests.

It closed after the landlady of The Doberman Inn died.

Julia Green, another director, said the village wanted to stop it from being turned into a house and keep it as a pub.

The Grade II-listed building has been gutted, ready for refurbishment works to begin

A number of villagers formed the Framsden Social Enterprises Community Benefit Society to buy it, receiving nearly £280,000 from the COF, and completing the purchase two weeks ago.

"By Saturday morning, we had a group of 20-odd villagers here helping us clear the outside of the pub and then a couple of weekends ago, we actually went in and removed the debris from the centre of the pub," said Ms Green.

Brian Cox said the pub would be dog-friendly, as requested by the villagers

The new owners now need to raise a further £250,000 to restore the building to its former glory, and hope it will be open by Christmas.

Residents shared their delight at the unveiling of the pub's new name.

Mark Rowe said: "It's a lovely pub in the village. It's beautiful inside and I think once they get it all all finished, it'll be really, really very well supported."