The Campaign for real Ale (CAMRA) is inviting press to attend the Pub Saving Award 2023 ceremony at The Rising Sun on Saturday 3 February at 1pm.
The winner of CAMRA’s prestigious Pub Saving Award 2023, The Rising Sun in the village of Woodcroft, Chepstow, will receive its award at a press event at the pub on Saturday 3 February at 1pm.
CAMRA’s Pub Saving Award recognises people that have come together to save a pub that would have otherwise been demolished or converted to another use. The illustrious award aims to secure publicity for pub-saving campaigns to encourage others to save their local.
The title was awarded to the Save Our Sun committee for its decade of dedicated campaigning to save the pub and to provide a community hub for its locals, raising more than £350,000.
The Rising Sun appears on OS maps from 1870 and was brewery-owned in 2011 until high rents and inflated beer costs caused its doors to close. Despite the community being informed that it had been bought as a pub in late 2012, it had transpired that the new owners were developers who wanted to turn it into residential property.
This led to an epic community-led campaign to buy the pub. Started by a few locals in early 2013, the campaign finally reached fruition with The Rising Sun opening its doors again to the community in October 2022.
Within one month of the Community Share option being launched, £350,000 had been raised from 240 different investors.
The group were one of only two pubs in England to be successful in obtaining a grant from the Community Ownership Fund of £175,000.
Once given the keys to the Rising Sun, the community then made a herculean effort to clean, repair and refurbish the pub. With an amazing team of local tradespeople, a volunteer project manager and more than 120 volunteers all pitching in, the doors of The Rising Sun could open once again.
The pub is now the centre of its community and is well supported by old and young. It is fully accessible, dog friendly and serves great food and drink, as well as providing space for volunteer activities including a subsidised community coffee morning.
CAMRA South West Regional Director Peter Bridle said: “The Rising Sun is a true labour of love. The local community didn’t want to lose their pub and a lot of time, effort and dedication from volunteers has gone into not only saving, but also refurbishing this fantastic pub.
“CAMRA is always concerned when pubs could be lost to the communities they serve. It is vital that these venues are marketed as going concerns and everything possible is done to secure their future as community pubs – including giving existing licensees first refusal of buying their pub.
“After around 10 years of blood, sweat and probably a few tears, it is wonderful to see the Rising Sun once again at the heart of its community. The Pub Saving Award is richly deserved and a real testament to the efforts of the local community. Long may The Rising Sun thrive!”
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Notes to editors
Rising Sun contact details:
Email: info@thersingsunwoodcroft.co.
Address: Coleford Road, Woodcroft, NP16 7HY
Website: https://www.
The initial press release announcing the Pub Saving Award 2023 winner, runner-up and highly commended pubs can be found here.
CAMRA has resources and support for anybody looking to save their local, and the Pub Saving Award highlights how groups across the UK have managed to do it. You can find CAMRA’s ‘Saving Your Local Pub’ Guides, plus more resources and contacts for advice here.
About CAMRA:
CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, is a not-for-profit consumer group with over 150,000 members that has been operating since 1971. Our vision is to have quality real ale and thriving pubs in every community.
Media Contact:
CAMRA Press Office:
01727 337863
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