A spokesperson for the Friends of the Cross Guns group said: “We know only a small number of regulars gave us their opinions but it chimed with what we have long thought. The community would benefit from a country pub type interior and exterior with good home cooked food.

“Although community activities and entertainment scored less highly, these should perhaps be occasional add ins rather than priorities at the pub.

“We have asked Admiral Taverns to meet with us to discuss these findings in light of the high turnover in pub managers at the Cross Guns. We want to help them run a successful community country pub in the village or explore other possibilities for the future of the pub.”

The pub is currently only open for limited hours and Admiral Taverns are marketing the pub to find new managers. If you know anyone who might want to run the pub, please get in touch with Admiral Taverns or the Facebook group.

The Cross Guns is listed by Shropshire Council as an Asset of Community Value – a status it has been granted for the past ten years.

If you use Facebook, you can join the group by searching for Friends of the Cross Guns or you can click here.

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Babbinswood Farm is a small mixed organic farm which has been in the same family since the 1890s and it was converted to organic in 2000. With the help of lots of volunteers, the farm has thrived along with its cows, sheep and pigs, producing organic meat, organic raw milk and yogurt and selling organic fruit and vegetables in the farm shop.

The farm is home to a holistic veterinary practice and other businesses have found a home there including Blossom and Bee Kitchen’s wonderful cakes.

Charlotte Hollins is helping Babbinswood Farm – in 2006 she and her brother faced a similar situation saving their father’s organic farm. Fordhall Farm is now a Community Land Initiative with 8000 landlords – all of whom bought shares in the farm – and saved it from becoming a housing estate.

Like Fordhall Farm, Babbinswood practises regenerative agriculture cultivating healthy soil, producing healthy animals and vegetables, feeding healthy people – and supporting a healthy planet.

Since Charlotte’s father, Arthur, started organic farming in the 1950’s, food production has changed along with buying habits. People rarely buy vegetables unpackaged from local shops and farms – farms have become isolated and many young people buying food in supermarkets have no idea where their food comes from or how it is produced.

In an effort to reconnect people to the landscape and to farming, Babbinswood Farm offers group visits with tours of the farm; they host courses in holistic land management, and permaculture, and their volunteers all learn how to grow food organically.

All the cattle and sheep are pasture fed and calves are left with their mothers so cows are only milked once a day. Part of the land is woodland and wetland which could become a nature reserve and there are already walking paths across the farm.

The farm was valued last year at £2.6 million. The outstanding debt is currently £1.42 million, the bank agreed a three month bridging loan to give the family time to find ways to pay off the loan – but this ends in January, 2024 so the family called a meeting on 3rd December to ask for help. A JustGiving page has raised nearly £30,000, the meeting attracted over 30 people – one of whom donated one of the bridging loan interest payments – and a steering group is being organised.

If you have any ideas, would like to help, or buy a share in the farm, you can find out more at www.babbinswoodfarm.co.uk where there’s also a link to their online shop of organic produce and vegetable boxes.

Thanks to Barbara Rainford for this article.

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The store which was previously listed when it became part of McColl’s has had a new application by local residents accepted so the store is once again listed as a valuable asset to the village and community of Pant.

East listing lasts five years and cannot be extended other than by reapplying for a listing.

The Council has confirmed its decision to relist the store, which means that the residents of Pant must now be given advance notice of any planned change of use which could result in the store no longer operating as a food store.

The convenience store, which also offers Post Office services, is used by locals on a regular basis and provides a vital service to the village as well as people passing by on the busy A483.

Pant shop joins Cross Guns in listing

Both McColl’s and the The Cross Guns Inn are now listed on Shropshire’s register of community assets – the pub is one of over 600 pubs listed as Assets of Community Value in England.

Shaun Fisher, who helped co-ordinate the application for the shop, said: “I am glad that Shropshire Council has relisted the village shop. During the pandemic, McColl’s was a lifeline for many local people and it is a great asset to the village.

“A pub, shop and Post Office are essential for many people in rural areas and Pant is very lucky to have all three – long may that continue.”

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The store will be open from 7am to 10am and reopen at 5pm until their normal closing time of 9pm.

Both the Cross Guns in Pant and the White Lion at Llynclys will open their normal hours while Llanymynech Village Shop will be open from 8am to 10.30am.

Llynclys Farm Shop has announced on its Facebook page that it will be closed all day on Monday.

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If the government’s roadmap out of lockdown progresses as planned, Pant Memorial Hall will reopen to some hirers from May 17th. From this date some activities will be allowed in village halls and community centres and the committee have had lots of guidance from ACRE (Action for Communities in Rural England) about what measures are needed and what activities are allowed.

If ‘step 3’ is authorised from May 17th (and that will not be announced until the week before), many of the organised activities that have been the mainstay at the hall will be allowed again. However, activities such as parties and family gatherings are not allowed in village halls until ‘step 4’, which is due to come into force from June 21st. From that date, the hall committee is hoping that restrictions on the use of the kitchen and bar area will be lifted.

The hall is definitely booked as a polling station on 6th May for the local and police and crime commissioner elections – please check with the council for procedures, or see the signs on the day.

Meanwhile, as well as ensuring the hall is ready to reopen as soon as conditions allow, members of the committee have also been keen to point out that the hall is a venue that could also help people kickstart a business venture for the future.

Said Sean, Chair of the committee: “We really want to get the hall back into use and help out as much as we can. The post COVID-19 landscape might be very different and local people might be looking at ideas to start new businesses or new careers. The hall can be an excellent and affordable venue for all sorts of ventures, such as courses, education and entertainment.

“If you have an idea, why not get in touch to see how we can help.”

To contact Pant Memorial Hall:
bookings: email bookings@pantmemorialhall.org.uk or call 07913 565708
all other enquiries: secretary@pantmemorialhall.org.uk
The hall is @pantmemorialhall on Facebook and @pantmemhall on Twitter.

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