Residents of a village on the border between Northumberland and Cumbria are celebrating after getting the keys to their "beloved" pub.
The Samson Inn, in Gilsland, close to Hadrian's Wall, closed in October 2022 after its owners decided to call it a day. In response, a group of residents set up the Gilsland Community Benefit Society in the hope of re-opening the pub as a community-run venture.
After months of campaigning and raising more than £140,000 in share pledges, The Samson was one of four successful North East projects which applying for the Government's Community Ownership Fund and was awarded with £215,839. Four months on and the community group have finally got the keys - and are ready to start work on the pub's restoration.
- Read more: Petition to 'ring fence' additional council tax from Northumberland's second homes to go to scrutiny committee
Keep up to date with all the latest local news from Northumberland with our free newsletter
Cathy Mousette, a member of the Gilsland Community Benefit Society, was one of the first through the doors for the next chapter of the Samson Inn. She told ChronicleLive: "We were drinking warm prosecco out of mucky glasses but we don't care because we've got the keys and we'll get our pub back!"
The next steps include a big clean and tidy up, and external building works, which are set to begin very soon. The society also hope to utilise the "rich mix of skills" within the community to restore the pub to its former glory.
A search is also underway for a tenant to run the Samson Inn and become part of the Gilsland Community. Though there is no opening date, the society say that the Samson "will be open as soon as we possibly can".
Jane McDaid, also of the Gilsland Community Benefit Society, said: "There have been ups and downs, hurdles and challenges - but if it was easy, the "high" of completing the purchase wouldn't be so exciting!
"Thank you to each and every one of you. Without you, this could not have happened; but with you, the community of Gilsland now has a forever pub."
Join our Northumberland WhatsApp community
Join our Northumberland WhatsApp community for all the latest news Northumberland news direct to your phone.
To join you need to have WhatsApp on your device. All you need to do is choose which community you want to join, click on the link and press 'join community'.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the ChronicleLive team.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.
If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you’re curious, you can read our privacy notice.
