Gressenhall White Swan A vision for a community pub

In an earlier edition of Norfolk Nips we heard about the Gressenhall Community Enterprise group that was hoping to save the Swan at Gressenhall, since that article it has been confirmed that the group have reached agreement with the current owner to purchase the pub. In order for this to happen the group needed to raise at least £230,000 to buy the building and commence refurbishment.

A share scheme was launched on 20 August 2020 where investors could buy shares and own a stake in the pub. The minimum stake was £50 up to a maximum of £25,000 and other money will be raised through social investment loans.

Donna Chessum, from the campaign team, said there had already been a lot of support for the scheme, which aimed to put the pub back at the heart of the village. This was evident when, the day after the launch, over a hundred supporters gathered on the village green to raise their glasses to the success of the share offer. The event was called the Toast on the Green and a licenced bar was offering a special beer, Save Our Swan, brewed by nearby Beeston Brewery.

The Plunkett Foundation is one of the bodies that has been supporting local communities since 1919 and in November 2019 awarded the group the One to Watch award that recognises a community business which is close to opening, or has recently opened. The awards were presented in partnership with Power to Change - the independent trust that supports community businesses in England - and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation which supports organisations that are building an inclusive, creative and sustainable society.

To help visualise their plans, the group produced the usual plans of the changes, but also created a virtual tour of the refurbishment so that people could get a 3D interpretation by wearing a special headset!

After a successful bid the keys were handed over in January 2021 to the 430 members of the Gressenhall Community Enterprise group. Plans were then submitted for much needed building and renovation work. It is hoped that this will be finished by October 2021 when it is planned to reopen.

The pub will revert to its original name, The White Swan and will be open seven days a week offering locally sourced food and ales. A café is planned to be open during the day Monday to Saturday and pub food will be served from Tuesday to Sunday.