A 300-YEAR-OLD pub in Longparish that was brought back to life by campaigners is planning to reopen next month after remaining closed for nearly six years.

The Plough Inn, which is a community-owned pub now, has set September first week as the reopening date.

The watering hole is currently undergoing last-phase refurbishment works, while a brand-new pub sign has just gone up. The sign reads ‘The Plough, Longparish. Since 1721’.

The pub garden, with views up to the Harewood Forest, is being cleared, remodelled and replanted to create abundant space for outside dining and drinking.

Inside the pub, the bar is almost fitted and the decorators are turning what was a building site into a pub dining room.

The Plough Inn first opened in 1721, and was one of the village’s premier watering holes for much of that time.

It closed in 2015, and was subsequently sold to a property developer.

The Plough Inn was set to be converted into a residential dwelling, but the application was refused by the local planning authority in July 2018, following significant local objection.

It was then purchased by a campaign named Plough Ahead after they raised over £225,000 by selling shares for £10 each.

Longparish parish council also assisted the fundraising by unanimously approving an application for a £300,000 loan to help purchase the pub, thus becoming the legal owners under the plans, with Plough Ahead taking on the lease.

As the revamp works at the pub continues, the two-bedroom manager’s flat has also been completely refurbished.

The pub has a new chef too, but it is still looking for a sous chef, catering assistant and bar staff.

If you are interested in applying for these roles, you can write to careers@ploughinn.org. To find out more about The Plough Inn, visit ploughinn.org.uk.