Cross Guns Inn
Review of Cross Guns Village Lunch – June 2019
The Community Lunch in Pant, which takes place on the second Monday of each month at The Cross Guns Inn, is becoming a staple event of the village. Here, local resident Geoff Lowe shares his views about the latest lunch…
“The true meaning of neighbourliness was witnessed at the Pant and Llanymynech village monthly pub lunch that attracted a record attendance.
The smiles of recognition from the diners at the many tables around the dining room with family members and neighbours sitting and chatting together. The excitement of their get together was obvious by the conversation sound level increasing dramatically.
A time to remember with flashbacks that triggered memories, for some of us, back to the pre-1950’s as we remember sharing our early school days with the children from the big cities.
Thankful to our ancestors who gave so much leading up to the results of the day on June 6th 1944.
A fitting tribute is the newly-installed Armistice Plaque at Pant Memorial Hall. Let us remember that each generation’s actions form the destiny for the next generation to come, and let us hope for some good judgement calls…
The Lunch activity is a great opportunity for a re-union, bringing back memories of successful events of the past, such as the Pant & Lanymynech Carnival, The village Football Rivalry, the many local sports and social events, the various volunteer groups, ie. St. John’s Ambulance Brigade, Priory of Wales, – catching up with the life events of our neighbours and friends as we see the 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation of children arrive.
A truly successful event, noted by the fond Farewell Waves and the ‘See You Next Month’ comments as the diners departed. ……. GOOD FRIENDS, GOOD FOOD, what better way to enjoy life?
A special ‘thank you’ to the staff at the Cross Guns, Pant for the good food and friendly service.”
If you would like to contribute to Pant Today, maybe with a review of an event that might be of interest to local people and visitors, feel free to get in touch by following this link.
Llanymynech and Pant Annual Parish Meeting
All residents of Pant and Llanymynech are invited to the annual parish meeting on Wednesday 1st May.
The meeting, to be held at Llanymynech Village Hall is the opportunity for residents in the parish to find out about the work of the Parish Council over the past 12 months.
One of the items on the agenda for the meeting is the launch of a new Facebook page focusing on traffic issues in the parish, especially on the A483 and at Llynclys Crossroads.
In its Parish Report, the Parish Council highlights a number of other issues that they have considered.
There are now three defibrillators in the parish at sites in Pant (village shop and Cross Guns pub) and Llanymynech at the Village Hall. There is also a machine on the wall of the Dolphin Inn provided by Carreghofa Community Council. In 2018 training in the use of the machines took place in April in Pant and later in the year at Llanymynech. These machines are vital life savers and are all registered with both West Midlands and Dyfed Powys Ambulance service. If an incident occurs and the emergency services are called, the operator gives the caller the location of the machine and the code for the cabinet lock, so that the defibrillator can be used while the paramedics and ambulance are on their way.
Last year the Council decided to change all the street lights in the parish to LEDs which provide a much brighter light without any heat, thereby saving energy. This will be a costly change, but a necessary one, as most of the current lights will not be supported by spares after 2020. The lanterns will make the light shine down, so that will help keep the night sky dark. Another benefit of the changeover will be the reduction of costly repairs as well as lessening the frustration of residents when a light goes off. The cost of this change will be met by the funding the Council receives from building developments in the parish, known as the Community Infrastructure Levy.
Shropshire Council’s Planning Review has progressed to consideration of some of the preferred sites. The site in Pant at the northern end of the village on the eastern side of the A483 for a possible 47 homes did not find favour with the Council or the residents and many objections were forwarded to the Planning Strategists at Shropshire Council. In Llanymynech the preferred sites were considered appropriate, as one was the site of the former coal yard.
The meeting starts at 7.30pm on 1st May and light refreshments will be available.
Minutes of previous meetings are available here – http://www.llanymynech.org.uk/html/agendas_and_minutess_2019.html
AGENDA
- APOLOGIES.
- DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST. To receive declarations of pecuniary interest.
- MINUTES OF THE LAST ANNUAL PARISH MEETING held on the
26.4.2018. - MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES.
- PANTLLAN REPORTER. To receive the Parish Council Annual Report.
- SHROPSHIRE COUNCIL REPORT. Report from Cllr. Matt Lee.
- LAUNCH OF PARISH COUNCIL FACEBOOK PAGE.
- SAFER ROADS PETITION. Discussion on a format for an online petition.
- SHROPSHIRE COUNCIL PLACE PLANS – To note/comment on the
Place Plan for the Parish. - SEVERN TRENT RESILIENCE PROJECT. To make any comments on
the work taking place to install the water main to Pant pumping station. - ANY OTHER ITEMS RAISED BY ELECTORS OF THE PARISH
- LIGHT REFRESHMENTS.
Pant Community Lunch returns
After a gap of several months, April saw the Community Lunch Club returning to the Cross Guns Inn in Pant.
Pant Lunch Club started back in 2017 to give local people an opportunity to meet, socialise and enjoy a communal meal each month.
The idea behind the concept was to give people in the village, and further afield, an informal way to meet up with other people, without having to join or become a member of a formal club. People will just be able to turn up at the Cross Guns in the village and meet other people.
Over the past few years, the Lunch Club had attracted more than 40 people each month under a number of different managers at the pub. But it was cancelled a year ago.
Now Stephen and Melissa who took over the pub in January have announced its return. The first one took place in April and the next one is in May.
Said Melissa: “When we took over at the Cross Guns at the start of the year, we asked locals what they wanted and the Lunch Club was one of the things people in the village mentioned.”
The next Pant Community Lunch is on Monday 13th May from 12 noon until 4pm. Booking not essential, but it might be advisable.
Everyone is welcome, regardless of age and it is hoped that it will be popular with parents who are at home during the day, the self-employed and retired people. Pant has a great community spirit, but for many people it is a bit daunting going out on their own, for whatever reason, and Pant Lunch Club is being launched to make it even easier to meet up with neighbours, friends and colleagues in a welcoming atmosphere.
Stephen and Melissa take over at the Cross Guns
There are new faces at the Cross Guns Inn in Pant as Stephen Davies and Melissa Collinson take over the reigns at the village pub.
Steve who is originally from Shrewsbury and Melissa from Oswestry took over the Cross Guns on Wednesday 13th February and food service resumes on Saturday 16th with a belated Valentine’s menu.
Talking ahead of taking over, Steve explained that he has been working for Marston’s for eight years, including at the Smithfield in Welshpool. “I have looked at the Cross Guns before and I think it is a great pub that has a lot of potential,” he says.
“Pant is a really nice area and it’s surprising how many houses there are in the village. It’s our aim to bring the community back into the pub,” says Steve.
According to Melissa, the focus is going to be on the locals and local families, as she wants the Cross Guns to be a central place for local people to get together and meet one another.
“My Mum lived in Pant for a while,” says Melissa, “and we have been to the pub quiz in the past. I am looking forward to this continuing and hopefully we will be able to start some other charity events.”
Both Steve and Melissa are keen to get to know the locals and have invited everyone to meet them on Monday 18th February at the pub from 10.30am, as part of a ‘meet & greet’.
“We are really keen to find out what local people want from their pub, whether it’s dominoes or another type of event or activity,” says Melissa.
“Even though our focus is going to be on the locals, we will also welcome travellers on the busy road through Pant too,” adds Melissa.
The pub is listed as an Asset of Community Value by Shropshire County Council in recognition of its value to the local community. This followed an application by an informal group of regulars at the pub and other residents of Pant.
Steve and Melissa say that food will be served from 12 noon to 9pm each day, with the usual closing time being 11pm.
Enjoy a walk from Pant to Llanymynech
In the first of what we hope will be a series of articles about walks in and around the village, we have put together a walk from Pant to Llanymynech, taking in Llanymynech Rocks and other local places of interest.
As all of us who live here know, this is a lovely part of the country with lots of great options for walking routes. The walk we have prepared takes in two countries, four pubs, Offa’s Dyke Way and the Montgomery Canal!
This walk is a superb way of exploring the Parish of Llanymynech and Pant whilst at the same time seeing some of the natural beauty of the area, its industrial heritage and local amenities. The walk starts at The Cross Guns Inn in Pant and is a distance of about three to five miles, depending on detours. As with all walks, please ensure you are fully equipped before you set off, as this is a guide only and some sections are off the footpath.
Click here to see the walk in full.
We hope to add more walks to the Pant Today website over the coming months and we would really welcome any suggestions. If you have an idea for a walk you would like us to try, or if you have put together your own route, please do contact us. We can’t guarantee that all walks will make it onto the website, but we will do our best to include as many as possible.
Guide Dog named thanks to Cross Guns quiz goers
Regulars at the Cross Guns Inn in Pant have now raised enough money through their monthly quiz to name a guide dog.
At the quiz on 19 January, locals at the pub decided on a name for ‘their’ puppy. After a number of possible names were put forward by the teams at the quiz, a show of hands at the full pub led to the name being chosen as Dougal.
Chris and Jayne Richards have been organising the monthly pub quiz at the Cross Guns for the past four years and have seen the popularity increasing. Each month they raise around £80-100 and they have now collected £2,500 for Guide Dogs.
Said Chris: “We are really glad that the quiz has become so popular with villagers over the past few years and it’s a real milestone being able to name our first dog – Dougal.”
But the work doesn’t stop there, Chris and Jayne are carrying on fundraising for Guide Dogs and the next quiz date is already in the calendar – 23rd February 2018 at 8pm.
Fundraising has already started for the next dog!
New faces at the Cross Guns Inn
You will see new faces at the Cross Guns Inn in Pant from this week.
The Cross Guns Inn in Pant will have new faces behind the bar from this week as Sarah Hopkins takes over the reigns at the pub with Gazz Handley and Steve Bedford as her managers.
Gary and Charlotte, who have run the pub for the past year, are moving to a new pub in the Manchester area.
Gazz and Steve have confirmed that both next month’s pub quiz and Pant Lunch Club will be going ahead.
New faces: Gazz (left) and Steve with Gazz’s sister.
The Cross Guns is owned by brewer Marston’s and as well as serving the locals in Pant and surrounding areas, the Cross Guns is a popular stopping off point for travellers on the A483 from Oswestry and the North to Mid Wales.
The pub is listed as an Asset of Community Value by Shropshire County Council in recognition of its value to the local community. This followed an application by an informal group of regulars at the pub and other residents of Pant.
Sarah has already posted on the Cross Guns’ Facebook page that they will be recruiting new kitchen and bar staff and although experience is preferable, it is not essential as full training will be given.
Anyone interested in applying is asked to go to the pub’s Facebook page and contact Sarah by direct message.
Third Pant Autumn Bazaar deemed a success
Pant Autumn Bazaar held on Saturday 7 October this year raised more than £450 towards the upkeep of Pant Memorial Hall and saw over 170 people attend.
The Bazaar, was supported by a number of local stallholders and charities including Oswestry Country Markets, local Pant beekeepers Chris and Jayne, the Restore the Montgomery Canal campaign and Cae Post. These stalls were joined by a number of individuals and stalls organised by volunteers from Pant Memorial Hall.
Pant Memorial Hall was founded as a resource for all the people of Pant and the Autumn Bazaar was an ideal opportunity to showcase its facilities as a community hall in North Shropshire and a focal point for the village.
Thanks to the generosity of individuals and local businesses, the Memorial Hall was able to raise over £450, which will go towards the maintenance of the hall.
Speaking about the event, Helen, Secretary of the committee said: “The Memorial Hall is an asset for the whole village and we are grateful for all the hard work put in by the committee and local businesses to make this year’s Bazaar a success. Among many sponsors and donors, the Cross Guns Inn donated a meal, Cambrian Heritage Railway donated a free train trip and lots of Oswestry businesses donated prizes to the tombola which all meant we could raise over £450 for the hall. We’d like to thank everyone who made the event such a success again this year.”
Just one of the prizes at Pant Autumn Bazaar
This is the third year that the memorial Hall has held a fundraising bazaar and together they have raised over £1400 for the Hall’s upkeep.
The committee at Pant Memorial Hall will be considering whether to hold a similar event in 2018 but in the meanwhile will be looking at the possibility of putting on more events in future.
You can find out more about Pant Memorial Hall here.
Pant to have own lunch club
The New Year sees the launch of Pant Lunch Club
The Cross Guns Inn, Pant will host the Pant Lunch Club
A group of residents in Pant have come up with a new idea – Pant Lunch Club – to give local people an opportunity to meet, socialise and enjoy a communal meal each month.
The idea behind the concept is to give people in the village, and further afield, an informal way to meet up with other people, without having to join or become a member of a formal club. People will just be able to turn up at the Cross Guns in the village and meet other people.
The pub will offer a choice of lunch items at £5 per person which includes a hot lunch, tea or coffee, in addition to its normal weekday menu.
To kick start the idea, the first lunch is scheduled for Tuesday 7th February at 12.30 pm. If there is enough interest on the 7th February, then it is planned to run the lunch club on the FIRST Tuesday every month. Future ideas could also see the club holding entertainment or other special activities, depending on the interests of the people who attend.
The club is open to everyone, regardless of age and it is hoped that it will be popular with parents who are at home during the day, the self-employed and retired people. Pant has a great community spirit, but for many people it is a bit daunting going out on their own, for whatever reason, and Pant Lunch Club is being launched to make it even easier to meet up with neighbours, friends and colleagues in a welcoming atmosphere.
Although there is no need to join or book in advance, there is a group on Facebook where people can indicate that they will be attending or invite their friends to come along too. Search Pant Lunch Club on Facebook.
Season’s Greetings from Pant
Season’s greetings from Pant.Today
As the year draws to a close Pant.Today would like to wish all our website visitors, residents and businesses in Pant a very Happy Christmas and a successful New Year.
The nights are at their darkest at this time of the year and many people brighten up their homes and the village with their displays of lights in their windows and increasingly outside in the gardens.
Maybe one year the Parish Council or local businesses might like to consider offering to judge the best seasonal display or even consider placing a Christmas tree and lights in the village, not only for the benefit of the residents of Pant, but also to those who come home to Pant at this time of the year to be with family and friends at Christmas and New Year. Pant is a very welcoming village and nothing says that more to a traveller returning (or even just passing through) than a bright, colourful display.
On the face of it, not much seems to have changed in the village over the past year, but in reality lots of small things have marked the passage of time, be it new landlords at the Cross Guns, people moving out of the village and new people moving in, the second Pant Autumn Bazaar and numerous meetings of the WI, Parish Council, the Church and Chapel or friends just meeting up.
Together, these small things make up the village and some of them have been captured on Pant Today. We would like to continue keep helping people to keep informed of local events, so please do let us have any news about charity events or anything else of relevance to visitors and residents of Pant, or even if you have photos of your Christmas light displays please do send them in so that we can share them.
Season’s Greetings from Pant. We wish you all a peaceful New Year!
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