Opening of Prince of Wales pub in Cornwall bought by its village

The Prince of Wales Inn at Newtown St Martin was bought by a group of villagers, who raised around £500,000 to secure the business, thanks to support from shareholders and funders including The Plunkett Foundation and the Government's levelling up scheme, the Community Ownership Fund.

Now it is back open for drinks, after more than two years closed, and aims to be serving food by the end of the month.

Around 150 people are estimated to have filled the pub for its opening night, with the bar packed four deep at times and people spilling over outside.

Katie Nightingale, chair of the Friends of The Prince of Wales, Newtown St Martin group that now owns the pub, said: “I am so thrilled by how the community stood by us through this long and, sometimes, difficult process - and then to see how many people came out for the opening night was quite overwhelming.

“The night was such fun and it was lovely to connect with people I hadn't met before or seen for ages.

David Lambrick and councillor Guy Foreman with some of the Friends committee (Image: Guy Foreman)

“We experienced many setbacks on our journey to purchasing the pub and there were times when I and the other committee members felt like throwing the towel in, but Friday night proved to us that it was all worth it.

“I live just two minutes away from the pub and pass often on school runs and other journeys. Each time I have passed since opening night I have been delighted to see lots of cars outside and many people propping up the bar. Long may it continue!"

Running the pub is David Lambrick, a St Keverne parish councillor and well-known local publican previously of the Five Pilchards in Porthallow, joined by two of his former colleagues there, Michelle Curnow and Emma Peters.

Recalling the moment it was decided the community must come together to save the pub, Friends committee member Adam Carpenter said: “When we learned, in June 2020, that a notice had gone up for permission to change the Prince of Wales pub in Newtown St Martin into a dwelling, it was something of a wake-up call.

"In the last few years, the village had lost its shop, post office, petrol station and school, and the pub was the last hub where it was possible for people to drop in regularly for some social interaction in a sometimes quite isolated rural community.

The bar was packed for opening night (Image: Guy Foreman)

“At this time, we were in the middle of the first lockdown which was giving everyone a feel of what life was like being unable to truly connect with people. The thought of suddenly losing the only hint of salvation on the horizon was enough to fire people into action.

“It was reminiscent of the film, It’s a Wonderful Life, where a whole town was shown to be a much worse place without the good deeds of one George Bailey.

“In the case of the Friends of the Newtown St Martin Pub, it was the good deeds and support of many members of the community - and beyond - which culminated in the reopening of the Prince last Friday.”

The committee has thanked the parish council and the Cornwall councillors who have offered support – first Julian Rand and later Guy Foreman – as well MP Derek Thomas, who they said had all provided “huge help and support.”

The pub, which is dog friendly, is now looking ahead to various community events, including the Friends of St Martin carol evening on Friday, December 16 from 6.30pm.