Village pub reopens after fundraising campaign

A cherished village pub is reopening after nearly two years of tireless community fundraising.

The Elm Tree Inn in Langton Herring, Dorset, closed in November 2023, leaving locals uncertain about its future.

But in March 2025 campaigners were given the opportunity to purchase the premises, provided they could raise £650,000.

By that time, the group had already secured £500,000 through donations and a creative fundraising campaign that included Gen Z-style videos on TikTok.

Their social media efforts reached hundreds of thousands of people, with some videos reaching more than one million views.

Announcing the reopening of the "community hub" on social media, the Friends of the Elm Tree group said: "Support has poured in from across the globe, from places we least expected, as well as those close to us in Dorset."

They said the pub had been redecorated to "create a lovely welcoming environment" and that new benches and seating had been installed in its gardens.

To complete the purchase, the group supplemented their fundraising with loans, which they aim to repay quickly.

They are now inviting more community members to become shareholders, with shares priced at £200.

Katherine and James Parsons are the pub's new tenants.

In her previous role at Dorset Food and Drink, Mrs Parsons worked with producers in the county and hopes to introduce a new menu with locally sourced food and drink.

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