A group in a Cotswolds village are now “confident” of being able to reopen their only pub after it was awarded £300,000 by the government.

The Hop Pole in Limpley Stoke near Bradford on Avon was closed by its owner, the Wellington Pub Company, around five years ago and since then locals have campaigned to save it. 

On Thursday, their project group, the Limpley Stoke Community Benefit Society, was told they had received a £300,000 award from the Community Ownership Fund run by Michael Gove’s Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to help reopen the pub.

Group chairman Simon Coombe said: “We’re thrilled to announce that on Thursday 8th December we received a letter from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities confirming that we have been awarded £300,000 from the Community Ownership Fund.

"This is a game-changing amount of money and it means we are now more confident than ever before of reopening the Hop Pole as a community pub at the heart of Limpley Stoke.

“Whilst this fantastic news means we can now start work on refurbishing our precious building, please note that our fundraising work is still ongoing to raise a further £300k+ so that we can complete the project.

“We will continue to keep you updated on future funding opportunities and progress, but in the meantime please raise a festive glass to being one huge step closer to reopening our beloved Hop Pole.”

Mr Coombe said that when the group heard about the funding award there were “tears of joy” from some of the delighted members.

The village's MP, Michelle Donelan, drove over on Friday to congratulate the group on their good fortune, he said.

Since being closed five years ago by the Wellington Pub Company, the Hop Pole has since fallen into a state of disrepair.

In January this year, the Grade II listed pub was at risk of being sold on the open market, with locals fearing it would be converted into residential housing.

The group put together an offer, which was declined, and then raised more than £300,000 in four weeks from a share sale, allowing them to put forward a counter offer that was finally accepted.

Mr Coombe added: “It was a lot of work, but it just showed us just what the support is for wanting to keep a community pub in this village.”

Since then, the group have continued to raise funds, most recently holding a Christmas Fair outside the pub on December 1, with around 400 people attending. 

"People have not only voted with their pockets, but we've got 100 volunteers who have come and dug up the garden, it is all a real sign that people really want to see this pub open,” Mr Coombe said.

He says the team are now "absolutely convinced” the Hop Pole will reopen. "If you had asked me a week ago I would have said I hope it reopens, now I can say with confidence, it will reopen.”

The management committee have selected local architect David Brain Partnership of Bath help with their refurbishment programme. Mr Brain lives in nearby Freshford.

Mr Coombe added: “This will be a major step forward in helping us come up with a cost-effective design for our refurbishment programme.”

The group still needs help to raise funds and around 40 volunteers to reopen the pub.

To date, 515 shareholders have so far raised £560,000 but they still need to raise a further £300,000. The target date for reopening is 20124.

To help or volunteer email limpleystokecbs@gmail.com