Rural pub's regulars toast buyout

The village celebrated its first night under new owners on Saturday

Regulars at a country pub are celebrating their £250,000 buy-out to keep the premises open.

Half a dozen drinkers at The Angel Inn in Grosmont, near Abergavenny, formed a consortium when the final pub in the village came up for sale.

Rob Barker said: "It's the hub of the village, it always has been.

"There used to be three pubs at one time. We couldn't bear the thought of losing this one so we dreamed up a scheme to buy it."

The investors, five villagers and an expatriate Welshman who lives in Plymouth, say they plan to keep their local as a real ale pub.

The group includes a nurse, the only woman in the venture, and two orthopaedic surgeons, one of whom works in the west country.

They held an informal launch for the 400 population Monmouthshire community, which boasts a 12th Century castle and was once a thriving market town.

The pub aims to stay as the hub of village life

Carpenter and village resident Mr Barker said: "There were loads of pubs but they have all been lost to houses.

"We were worried about it being turned into a gastro pub or a posh restaurant. We did not want to lose the character of our village pub."

The consortium have formed a company to owner manage the Angel and have put in place another local resident as the pub manager.

The real ale campaign group, Camra, has welcomed the Angel Inn's buyout.

South and Mid Wales regional director - James Daley said: "It's good news for the community, pub goers and Camra members."