THE GEORGE COMMUNITY
ABOUT US
The George Community Pub stands at the centre of the village of Bethersden in Kent. It has
been a drinking establisment since the 17th century and became a licensed pub in 1841. For
decades it has been the centre of village life and locals refer to it as ‘the heart of the village’.
Following the pub’s closure in 2020, local residents came together to form ‘The George
Community’ with the aim of saving and reopening it as a community enterprise.
On 11th July 2021 the group applied to the FCA to form the Community Benefit Society and
The George Community Limited became a legal entity on 2nd August 2021. The group also
began organising a number of successful pop-up social events - both outdoors and at the
Village Hall - to try to keep both the community spirit of the pub alive and to raise funds to
help mount a bid to buy the premises.
With the support of Ashford Borough Council, Bethersden Parish Council, the Plunkett
Foundation and local MP Damian Green, a successful share offer was launched at the end of
November 2022 which raised £300K in just a few weeks. With part-matched funding from the
Government’s Community Ownership Scheme, the purchase was agreed and The George
Community took possession of the pub at the beginning of February 2023.
There followed several months of external and internal refurbishment before the pub
reopened - serving drinks only - at the end of May 2023. A daytime cafe service began at the
end of June, with plans to start serving food as soon as a major kitchen refit was completed
which happened by Christmas 2023 when our chef Jim joined the team.
We look forward to going from strength to strength in the future, building our services and
events.
CLICK HERE: To find out more on THE GEORGE COMMUNITY website.
The George Community Pub stands at the
centre of the village of Bethersden in
Kent. It has been a drinking establisment
since the 17th century and became a
licensed pub in 1841. For decades it has
been the centre of village life and locals
refer to it as ‘the heart of the village’.
Following the pub’s closure in 2020, local
residents came together to form ‘The
George Community’ with the aim of
saving and reopening it as a community
enterprise.
On 11th July 2021 the group applied to
the FCA to form the Community Benefit
Society and The George Community
Limited became a legal entity on 2nd
August 2021. The group also began
organising a number of successful pop-up
social events - both outdoors and at the
Village Hall - to try to keep both the
community spirit of the pub alive and to
raise funds to help mount a bid to buy
the premises.
With the support of Ashford Borough
Council, Bethersden Parish Council, the
Plunkett Foundation and local MP Damian
Green, a successful share offer was
launched at the end of November 2022
which raised £300K in just a few weeks.
With part-matched funding from the
Government’s Community Ownership
Scheme, the purchase was agreed and
The George Community took possession
of the pub at the beginning of February
2023.
There followed several months of
external and internal refurbishment
before the pub reopened - serving drinks
only - at the end of May 2023. A daytime
cafe service began at the end of June,
with plans to start serving food as soon
as a major kitchen refit was completed
which happened by Christmas 2023 when
our chef Jim joined the team.
We look forward to going from strength
to strength in the future, building our
services and events.
CLICK HERE: To find out more on THE
GEORGE COMMUNITY website.
THE GEORGE
COMMUNITY
ABOUT US
THE GEORGE
Bethersden
