Community group secures Ickleton pub
A Village in South Cambridgeshire are celebrating tonight after Greene King accepted their bid to buy a historic pub
Last updated 3rd Oct 2024
Residents of Ickleton, South Cambridgeshire, are celebrating after pub operator Greene King accepted an offer from the community to purchase the village’s last remaining pub, the Ickleton Lion.
The successful bid comes after a 10-week fundraising effort over the summer, which saw over 400 people invest in a Community Benefit Society formed to save the historic pub.
The Ickleton Lion, which has been a focal point of the village for over 300 years, closed its doors in July 2023. Concerns had grown that the pub might be sold for redevelopment. However, a fundraising campaign raised over £440,000 of the original £450,000 target. The effort attracted shareholders from the local area, other parts of the UK, and even abroad, and gained support from MP Pippa Heylings.
In addition to community investments, financial support came from several sources, including a £45,000 grant from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, an interest-free loan of £5,000 from Ickleton Parish Council, and a £500 donation from the Communications Union (CWU) Eastern No. 4 branch.
Rachel Radford, Chair of Ickleton Community Pub Ltd, said:
“We’re absolutely over the moon to have received the good news from Greene King and grateful for their positive response to the community’s vision for the future of the Lion. It’s been a whirlwind few months but only possible thanks to the generosity of all those who have supported us – not only financially but with gifts of time and expertise.”
The Ickleton Lionhearted group plans to refurbish and reopen the pub, offering affordable food and drink, as well as creating opportunities for community engagement. The offer remains subject to surveys and contract completion, which will take place in the coming weeks.
The pub has historically served not only local residents but also cyclists passing through on route 11 and scientists from the nearby Wellcome Genome Campus. The news of the community’s successful bid has been met with widespread joy, including from Ickleton Cricket Club, whose members contributed to the campaign to save what they refer to as their "pavilion."
The Lionhearted Group aims to continue raising funds for the refurbishment of the pub and its garden. Volunteers and businesses from the local area have already offered in-kind support. Further calls for assistance, both financial and practical, will be shared via the group’s website and social media channels.