Chardstock residents fight for future of dilapidated village pub

Residents of Chardstock have expressed concerns over the future of the village's only pub. 

The George Inn in Chardstock was closed down during the Covid pandemic and has now stood empty for more than two years. 

The Grade II listed building has since fallen into disrepair and residents formed the George Inn Continuity Group after Chardstock Parish Council recognised it as an asset of community value. 

The pub is owned by the Wellington Pub Group – the largest free-of-tie pub estate in the UK, owned by British businessmen the Reuben brothers, named the second richest family in the UK by the Sunday Times Rich List in 2020. 

Jon Goss of the George Inn Continuity Group said the company claims to be investing in rural communities but they had left the village pub "falling into rack and ruin".

A lack of maintenance on the building is said to have seen the ceiling collapse.

The 15th century thatched pub is currently being advertised for a 20-year lease by Bettesworths, but residents are concerned the current condition of the building has resulted in a lack of interest.

They are calling on the owners to take action and renovate the pub, in hope it will be reopened in the future. 

Mr Goss said: "It is pivotally important to the village and the only pub in Chardstock. The skittles league played there, it always hosted lots of Christmas events and was the epicentre of the annual street fayre."

Mr Goss said the local conservation officer had a "duty of care to look after listed buildings" but it had taken months to encourage them to contact the Wellington Pub Group to discuss the future of The George Inn. 

It is now understood that the conservation officer has been in contact with the company, which has since commissioned a survey of the building and they are currently waiting for a report on this.

The Wellington Pub Group is managed by Criterion Asset Management, which has been asked for a comment on The George Inn in Chardstock but has not responded.