Pub opens its door after community buy-out

Pictured are members of a Bamford Community group outside the village pub The Anglers Rest

Villagers in Bamford raised a total of £263,500 to buy The Anglers Rest which they are turning into a community hub.

The pub was handed over to the Bamford Community Society at the end of October and officially opened on Saturday.

The plan is to turn the pub into a community hub and to house several services in one building. The society will open a cafe in the building later this month and the village Post Office will relocate there next January.

Liz Marshall, of the Bamford Community Society, said: “It was such a special moment when we finally became the owners of The Anglers Rest.

“It is the culmination of two years of hard work and commitment and was a much bigger undertaking than any of the group initially expected.

“Over the next few months we hope that The Anglers Rest will become a true community hub that all of Bamford’s residents can use and enjoy and that it will attract visitors to the village.

“When we first started we were told that local people wouldn’t buy into the pub in order to secure its future.

“But this project has shown that local people do care about their community assets and services. We are thrilled by the high level of support we have received.”