The fight to safeguard the Three Horseshoes in the remote village of Helions Bumpstead, Essex, has taken the runner-up prize in the Campaign’s Pub Saving Awards.

After the 19th-century pub was closed in May 2014, volunteers from the remote village of fewer than 500 people launched a survey which found there was overwhelming support for the Three Horseshoes to be restored as a public house.

The Helions Bumpstead Community Benefit Society was established shortly after, setting an ambitious target of £400,000 to buy the pub as a community asset. In March 2019, the pub successfully came into community ownership, and major refurbishment work took place both inside and outside.

During the refurbishment, regular pub nights and other events for the village were held. Plans to reopen the Three Horseshoes were thwarted in spring 2020 due to Covid, so a grocery store was established to offer basic supplies otherwise unavailable within the village as well as off sales of real ale at weekends.

Once Covid restrictions were fully lifted in July 2021, the pub opened for occasional weekend events while tenant recruitment continued, with a full reopening finally taking place in December 2021. 

Community Benefit Society chair Richard Russel said: “This is exactly what we had in mind from the outset – a traditional country pub in the heart of the village which ticks all the boxes, saved for posterity thanks to community ownership. Everybody in the village and surrounding area is delighted. This award is great news for us all and a fantastic reflection on Rob and Rhanny’s success.”

Tenants Rob and Rhanny Carroll said: “Since reopening, the pub has traded very successfully and always has three real ales, usually including at least one LocAle, and a growing reputation for its food. It has also been recognised by CAMRA North West Essex with a place in the 2023 Good Beer Guide, which is a real honour.”

North West Essex branch chair Ian Fitzhenry said: “I am delighted that the efforts of the villagers of Helions Bumpstead have been recognised with this prestigious award. It makes a very satisfactory double for the branch following the success of the Railway Arms, Saffron Walden in last year’s Pub Saving Award.”

The overall winner was the Plough Inn in Longparish, Hampshire – another success story of a village taking the fate of their pub into their own hands and ensuring it is run as a community asset.