Historic 500-year-old Wiltshire pub confirms reopening date after huge community campaign

The Hop Pole, near Bath, was built in the 17th century. Credit: ITV West Country

A Grade-II listed pub in Wiltshire has set a date for its grand reopening.

The Hop Pole Inn, in the village of Limpley Stoke near Bath, will open its doors to the public on Saturday 25 January - nearly three years after the community raised nearly £400,000 to buy the site and stop it from being turned into housing.

The pub shared on social media: "Our beautiful Hop Pole Inn is very to close to opening. The date is set for 25 January."

On 19 December the new tenants were revealed - Charlie Rawlings and Hannah Randall. The pub's account on social media said: "Behind every good pub is a great landlord. And we have got not one but two!

"The team selected Charlie, an exceptional chef, and Hannah, the front of house ray of sunshine, with help from industry experts and glowing references, to run the pub and help us all put the heart back into the community.

"So many of us have been working closely with them already and they are well and truly a vital part of the team. They have been hard at work grafting on the interiors and gardens, finalising marketing and branding plans, and selecting staff and suppliers.

"They bring with them a wealth of experience in hospitality and have exciting plans to bring to the pub. We love them and we know you will too."

The story so far

The good news comes after years of difficulties raising funds to restore the pub - with villagers forced to raise an extra £300,000 to save the building from deteriorating.

The Hop Pole Inn dates back to 1580 and was featured in the award-winning movie 'The Remains of the Day'.

The Hop Pole has been at the heart of the village for 500 years.

After buying the pub, campaigners arrived to find the building suffering from dry rot, mould and unsupported beams.

Locals from the Save the Hop Pole campaign then had to set up their own "scrounging teams," asking villagers to donate much-needed materials and resources.

James Sibson from the Save the Hop Pole campaign told ITV West Country in March 2024: "We knew we were buying an old building and that would bring some challenges, but we didn't realise how old it was and we didn't realise how flawed the work had been over the last 150 years.

"You make a hole and you find a problem. You make an opening in the wall you find a problem."

Victoria Davies spoke to the villagers fighting rising building costs to save the pub in March 2024.

Save the Hop Pole committee member Jessica Lloyd-Smith told ITV West Country in November 2023: "Without the pub the village is a collection of houses. With a pub in it, it gives it back its heart again so that is what we are really hoping to do."

After over £1.2 million raised through various means, including via National Lottery Awards, local fundraising and government fundraising - the Hop Pole Inn will now serve customers in the new year.