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Government funding helped the community purchase the Black Lion
A historic pub in North Yorkshire, closed in 2019, was brought into community ownership after villagers raised £241,000 and secured matching government funding to buy it. Their efforts helped secure Asset of Community Value status for the pub in September 2022, according to Harrogate News (UK). This enabled the committee to purchase the Black Lion in March 2024. The community then raised £241,000 through shareholder funding, with support from residents and people beyond the village. This enabled the committee to buy the Black Lion in March 2024, bringing the building into community ownership after years of efforts to secure its future. The £241,000 raised through community shareholder funding was matched by the Government’s Community Ownership Fund. This funding allowed the committee to purchase the Black Lion in March 2024.
Mike Ramshaw of Skelton Black Lion Community Pub & Hub said the work had been achieved through thousands of volunteer hours, reflecting the commitment of the local community. The Black Lion in Skelton-on-Ure, near Boroughbridge, became the focus of a local campaign to protect the building and restore its role in village life. The refurbishment included a new bar, cellar and community café, with the project moving into its final phase. The Government’s Community Ownership Fund matched the amount raised, providing additional funding for the purchase. The acquisition marked the transition from the campaign to save the pub to the work of restoring it. After the purchase, the committee began a full refurbishment of the building. The Black Lion’s refurbishment was nearing completion, and the project was moving into its final phase. The committee was searching for a tenant to take on the pub’s lease. The Black Lion was set to remain a free house.