Wiggenhall St Germans residents share concerns for fate of Crown and Anchor pub after it goes up for sale
Villagers concerned over the future of a pub at the centre of their community are joining forces in the hope of transforming it into a community-owned asset.
Residents of St Germans are in the early stages of forming a steering committee after fears have arisen about the fate of their beloved village pub.
The Crown and Anchor is currently on the market for offers in the region of £235,000, but it is also available for let.
On its website, Admiral Taverns, which currently owns the pub, said: “The Crown and Anchor is set in the picturesque village of Wiggenhall St Germans, on the banks of the Great Ouse River.
“Located just a few miles outside the bustling market town of King’s Lynn with a population of 43,000 potential customers. This popular pub presents a huge opportunity for the right publican to take it to the next level.”
As the pub has changed hands often, residents are worried that it could be developed into something else in the future – and a meeting on its future held earlier this month saw some 100 people attend.
The steering group’s communications lead and St Germans resident Paul Bridges said: “The pub is a very important part of our village history and is the last remaining of a number of pubs that used to call the village home so we are very passionate about ensuring that it remains.
“The current owners/brewery have a bit of a reputation for selling pubs for development, so we are doing everything we can to keep hold of it.”
Eventually, the group hopes that the establishment will become community-owned and run, but for now, they are asking for support by filling out a short questionnaire, which can be received by emailing saveourpub7@gmail.com.
“The main point is that the pub has been in the village for a long time – it is the heart of the community,” Paul added.
“It has helped out with Christmas, Easter and summertime events and has aided the local schools for fundraisers.
“It is a key social place for the village and means a lot to the community.”
A spokesperson for Admiral Taverns said: “We are strong believers in the importance of community pubs and our focus is always on helping our licensees to run sustainable pub businesses.
“After careful consideration however, we felt in this instance that the Crown & Anchor did not have a long-term sustainable future and therefore we’ve taken the decision to put the pub up for sale."
