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.
It was one of many pubs owned by EI Group (previously called 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. Then after a very brief spell running with a new tenant, who unfortunately was already struggling financially as a tenant with another EI pub in Andover, in February 2017 EI group sold the Plough Inn to a property developer. A planning application to convert the Plough Inn 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 with one simple aim, to buy and reopen the Plough Inn as a community enterprise.
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To see the Plough thriving once again, as a vibrant and valued asset at the heart of the Longparish village community. Serving high quality local food and beer, providing a community hub for the village and a warm welcome for visitors from further afield.
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Working closely with the Plunkett Foundation, Plough Ahead secured grants to help pay for a business buyers report, and with developed a business plan for the future business. 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 in turn undertook a 99 year lease from the council for the exclusive use of the property to secure and safeguard the future of the Plough Inn as a public house and promote it as an amenity of prime importance to the community. Owned by its 312 community shareholders for the benefit of the community, LCPL has fully refurbished the property, and reopened The Plough Inn for customers in September 2021.
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Now the Plough is open and trading, LCPL's vision for The Plough is a thriving, welcoming community-owned pub and hub, providing a great place for meeting, eating, drinking, working and socialising, with broader community benefits.
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The Society was registered in December 2018 with the Financial Conduct Authority (reg. 7951) under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014.