About
The Plough Inn
Longparish
The Plough Inn dates back to 1721, since when it has served passing travellers and the local community. A well known and previously successful destination pub with a reputation for high quality, locally produced, food, it closed its doors for business at the end of December 2015.
The Plough was one of many pubs owned by EI Group (previously Enterprise Inns). Although running a successful business, their tenant for the previous four years, TV celebrity chef James Durrant, sadly decided it was time to move on.
After a very brief spell with a new tenant already struggling financially with another EI pub in Andover, in February 2017 EI group sold The Plough to a property developer.
A planning application to convert The Plough to a residential dwelling was refused by the local planning authority in July 2018, following significant local objection. That decision was upheld by the Planning Inspector following a planning appeal hearing in October 2019.
Community Pub
"Owned by the community for the benefit of the community"
Plough Ahead
Longparish residents formed a steering group in 2018 aiming to buy and reopen The Plough as a vibrant and valued comunity asset at the heart of the Longparish – serving high quality local food and beer, providing a community hub for the village, and a warm welcome for visitors from further afield.
Working closely with the Plunkett Foundation, Plough Ahead secured grants to help pay for a business buyers' report, and developed a business plan. A Community Benefit Society was registered with the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) in December 2018 to provide the legal platform required for the pub and community hub business.
Longparish Community Pub Ltd
Longparish Community Pub Ltd (LCPL) is the legal entity that leases and operates The Plough. Funding from LCPL helped Longparish Parish Council to buy The Plough in February 2021, and LCPL took a 99 year lease from the council for the exclusive use of the property, securing and safeguarding the future of The Plough as a public house and an amenity of prime importance to the community. Owned by over 300 shareholders for the benefit of the community, LCPL has fully refurbished the property, and reopened The Plough for customers in September 2021.
Now The Plough is open and trading, LCPL's vision for The Plough is to be a sustainable and welcoming community-owned pub and hub, providing a great place for meeting, eating, drinking, working and socialising, with broader community benefits.
LCPL was registered in December 2018 with the Financial Conduct Authority (No. 7951) under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014.