The Three Tuns in Guilden Morden is now officially community-owned, following a five-year battle to save the pub.

More than £250,000 in share capital has been raised by the villagers to buy and renovate the pub.

In total, 267 private investors bought shares, including several held in trust for children and grandchildren, and £100,000 in grants and loans was awarded under the More Than A Pub programme administered by the Plunkett Foundation.

A mortgage from Co-operative and Community Finance was also secured to cover refurbishment costs.

John Harrison, a member of the Guilden Morden Community Pub management committee, said: “It has been a long and arduous journey to save The Three Tuns, but we are delighted to have this important village asset one step closer to being open as a community pub.

“The pub has been neglected for many years and our focus now is to renovate the building, decorate and sympathetically modernise throughout, and tidy up the overgrown garden.

“Although ambitious, we are hoping to be in a position to open the pub again next Easter and serve our first pint of beer!

“While we have exceeded our initial fundraising goal there is still the opportunity to invest if people feel more confident in doing so now that it has been bought by the community.

“There are a lot of renovations to do, so any additional investment by existing or new shareholders would be put to good use.”

Many people from Guilden Morden and the surrounding villages have offered to help clear the pub and there has also been support from professionals to provide some pro bono help. If you would like to get involved in this exciting community project, an hour, a half day or a couple of days, help would be much appreciated. Anyone interested in helping out should email thethreetunsguildenmorden@gmail.com.

GMCP will shortly be looking to recruit a community-minded tenant to run The Three Tuns. A newly renovated two-bedroom flat will be available. With no brewery or agent ties, any potential tenant, with the support of the Management Committee, will have a free rein to shape the future of the pub.

For further information go to www.thethreetunsguilden.co.uk.