Could a historic country pub on the edge of Longleat become a destination for literary lovers, folk music fans and families? Campaigners are seeking non-binding pledges from across the UK as they explore community ownership of the
Horse & Groom at East Woodlands, on the Somerset–Wiltshire border.
Could a closed country pub become an unlikely destination for families, literary lovers, folk music fans and anyone who believes Britain’s village pubs deserve a future?
Friends of the Horse and Groom, the volunteer-led group behind the Save the Jockey campaign, is exploring the potential community purchase of the historic Horse & Groom at East Woodlands, near Frome, on the edge of the Longleat Estate.
The group is inviting non-binding pledges of interest from across the UK to establish whether a future community share offer could raise the capital needed to purchase and reopen the pub.
The opportunity follows the Estate’s withdrawal of its request to review the pub’s Asset of Community Value (ACV) listing and its stated intention to proceed with disposal. For campaigners, the focus is now on turning years of village memories into a viable business with a future.
A country pub with a literary twist
The vision combines traditional pub life with an unusual selling point: a restaurant inspired by nineteenth-century literature, bringing classic storytelling and period atmosphere into a contemporary dining experience.
Alongside this literary concept, the proposed business plan embraces the things people love about a good country pub: real ales, hearty Sunday lunches, seasonal food, live music and community celebrations.
The ancient lime trees and surrounding countryside could provide a distinctive setting for outdoor performances, while Morris dancing would bring traditional English folk culture back to the pub. Charity fundraisers, local gatherings and other events would help restore its role as a social hub.
The ambition is to create a commercially viable business with a genuine community purpose — welcoming residents, walkers, cyclists and visitors while giving people fresh reasons to discover East Woodlands.
Closed since 2020, the Horse & Groom could become more than a pub brought back to life. It could become a distinctive rural destination, rooted in the traditions that make British pubs special.
Could community shares make it possible?
The immediate priority is to establish whether enough people would consider investing to make community ownership a realistic proposition.
Pledges are expressions of interest, not payments or commitments to invest. They will help the group gauge potential support before deciding whether a formal share offer is viable.
Supporters do not need to live locally. People anywhere in the UK who believe in preserving rural pubs and creating new community-owned ventures are welcome to register their interest.
Any future share offer would depend on the purchase price, reopening costs, the business plan, the proposed ownership structure and the funding available. Tax relief may be worth investigating, but eligibility cannot be guaranteed and would depend on the final arrangements.
Community shares carry financial risks, including the potential loss of some or all of an investment. They do not have the protection associated with ordinary bank deposits. No investment is being sought at this stage.
For now, every pledge will help answer one crucial question: could enough people come together to give the Horse & Groom a future?
CAMRA backs the pub’s community value
The campaign received support from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) for its ACV nomination, which highlighted the pub’s importance as a focal point for village life.
Jonathan Bengor of CAMRA’s Frome Branch said:
“As the only public house in East Woodlands, the Horse and Groom fulfilled an important role extending well beyond the sale of food and drink. It acted as a focal point for village life, providing a venue for informal gatherings, celebrations and community interaction.”
He added that losing the pub to an alternative use would remove the opportunity for the village to regain its only pub, describing the possibility of reopening as being of considerable community value.
An ACV listing does not guarantee a community purchase or give the community an automatic right to buy. It does, however, provide a defined opportunity for an eligible community group to organise a potential purchase when the owner intends to sell.
Following the Estate’s withdrawal of its review request, the pub remains subject to the ACV process. The current six-week interim moratorium gives an eligible community interest group the opportunity to notify the council in writing that it wishes to be treated as a potential bidder. A valid request within the statutory period can trigger a full six- month moratorium, providing additional time to develop plans and seek funding.
The moratorium does not oblige the owner to sell to the community, making a credible business plan and a realistic funding strategy essential.
Friends of the Horse and Groom has already begun developing a business plan to explore how the pub could operate sustainably while serving the wider community.
A pub with a history beyond the village
The Horse & Groom has historically attracted a diverse clientele from across Somerset, Wiltshire and further afield. Its location near Longleat made it a stopping point for visitors to the estate, as well as people staying at nearby caravan and camping sites.
The pub closed in 2020 following the death of landlord Rick Squire and the onset of the first COVID-19 lockdown. It has remained closed ever since.
According to the campaign group, the pub was not marketed for lease until 2024. Several parties subsequently expressed interest, although none progressed to the next stage. In summer 2026, the property was marketed for sale through an auction platform, prompting renewed concern about its future.
The group nominated the pub as an Asset of Community Value in July 2026. The listing was confirmed in late August, before the owner requested a review in September. The Estate has since withdrawn that request and indicated its intention to proceed with disposal.
For a small, rural village spread across the surrounding countryside, campaigners say the loss of the pub has consequences beyond the closure of a business. It removes an established place where people can meet, form friendships, celebrate milestones and maintain connections that might otherwise be difficult to sustain.
The proposed future of the Horse & Groom is therefore about more than reopening its doors. It is about creating a sustainable business that welcomes the wider public while restoring a valued part of village life.
Help shape the pub’s next chapter
From Sunday roasts and real ale to literature, live music and Morris dancing beneath the ancient lime trees, the proposed future of the Horse & Groom brings together traditional pub culture and fresh ideas for rural regeneration.
Whether the project succeeds will depend on the sale terms, a credible financial plan and sufficient support. The campaign is looking beyond the village to discover whether people across the country would like to help make community ownership possible.
To register a non-binding pledge of interest or find out more, visit the Save the Horse and Groom Facebook group, complete the online pledge form at https://forms.gle/QyjEYxpGUGPAicFNA or email contactus@savethejockey.co.uk.
No payment or commitment to invest is required at this stage.
Could the Horse & Groom become an example of how communities can give Britain’s historic pubs a new lease of life?
