Pop-up pub helping bring South Wiltshire village together

Alvediston's only pub The Crown Inn burnt down in May

Author: Aaron HarperPublished 13th Aug 2023

Despite their local pub being burnt out, a South Wiltshire village is still bringing local people together.

Alvediston pub, The Crown Inn, caught fire in May leaving locals without somewhere to meet for a drink or to meet friends, as there is no village hall.

But the local church, St Marys, is now hosting a pop-up pub once a month where locals can enjoy a drink for a small donation towards the church renovation project.

We spoke to Tim Collins, who was one of the people behind the idea of a pop-up pub. He told Greatest Hits Radio that it’s ‘very good’ that the idea has been well received.

“It’s a lonely place, a village, if a lot of people commute to London. Farms don’t employ the people they used to employ, so it’s a get together, we all have a drink and put in whatever you can afford to support the church or a charity.”

The pop-up pub, named The Three Bells, after the trio of church bells, has allowed people in the village of Alvesdiston to stay in touch with each other on a regular basis.

Churchwarden, Pen Milburn said: “The months go whizzing past and it’s very easy to go for ages without even seeing your neighbours!”

Church Vicar, The Very Reverend Dr Ruth Howlett-Shipley, said the church is at the heart of the community, adding that the pop-up pub is “brilliant, and it’s fun!”

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.