Villagers win award after 10-year campaign to reopen Forest of Dean pub

A community which raised more than £350,000 to buy and reopen a derelict village pub has been given a Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) award.

The Rising Sun closed in 2011 and ex-patrons led a campaign to reopen it, achieving their aim in October 2022.

They have now been recognised with CAMRA's Pub Saving Award 2023.

Michelle Hayes, chairwoman of the Rising Sun management committee said the team was "delighted" with the award after a "really brilliant journey".

The Rising Sun, in Woodcroft in the Forest of Dean, was sold to a developer in 2011 with a view to turn it into housing, but planning permission was denied.

Forest of Dean District Council served the owners a compulsory purchase order to secure the site in 2019 and a total of 240 local shareholders put up the money to purchase the pub, with their campaign spanning ten years.

Ms Hayes said: "The battle leading up to opening it was unique. We had to persevere and keep going.

"The support has been amazing and it really has brought the community together."

The Rising Sun now hosts everything from open mic nights to coffee mornings for the isolated and elderly, with "octogenarians who didn't know each other" coming together to play crib.

"I love the multi-generational feeling we've created here," Ms Hayes added.

Speaking of the award, Ms Hayes said: "We were just so delighted because all over the country there are amazing people saving their pubs and they all deserve it but we were just thrilled to win. We were massively honoured."

She said any groups campaigning to save their own local pub should "never give up".

"It's amazing what communities can do when they stick together. It is hard work and there's no getting away from it but the rewards are definitely worth it," added Ms Hayes.

Follow BBC West on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk