Yorkshire’s First-Ever Community-Owned Pub Celebrates 10th Birthday

West Yorkshire’s first-ever community-owned pub is hosting a long weekend of fun festivities to mark 10 years since its customers successfully joined together to secure its future.

The Fox and Goose in Hebden Bridge is marking the milestone with celebrations running from 21-25 March 2024. Customers old, new and from every walk of life are invited to events including a mini beer festival showcasing the pub’s favourite local breweries, DJs, live music, food, and an anniversary quiz. The festivities will also see the return of special-edition collaboration brews reflecting the pub’s cooperative status, with anniversary t-shirts and merchandise also available. Exciting new commemorative beers will come later this year.

The pub was saved in March 2014 when a group of regulars raised £130,000 to buy and repair the much-loved local, whose future came under threat because of the landlady’s deteriorating health.  The community share offer to buy the traditional pub attracted investment from 250 people, including pub regulars, local investors and pub enthusiasts all over the country. Later share offers in 2017, 2018, and 2019 increased its ownership to almost 300 members, while a current, open share offer is growing membership even further.

“Over the past ten years the Fox & Goose has grown its reputation as a friendly, co-operative, sustainable pub, known for its quality and range of beers and drinks.”

The Fox & Goose has thrived under community ownership since its rescue, winning new support from those who cherish its warm welcome, wide range of customers, and more traditional surroundings and atmosphere: an increasingly rare alternative to the self-conscious or impersonal branded feel of many modern-day venues.  The pub is winning awards too – like CAMRA Halifax and Calderdale Pub of the Year in 2019 and 2022 – earning praise for its knowledgeable staff, the quality and diversity of its ales and beers, its eclectic programme of music and events and a new, much-loved converted outdoor space.

The Fox & Goose Manager, Hannah Thurman said: “The Fox & Goose team is excited to be celebrating the contribution of Fox and Goose members, staff, customers and suppliers to the success of the pub over the last ten years. The 10^th birthday is a chance to say ‘thank you’ to the community who together saved the pub and to welcome new members and customers.”

The Fox & Goose Society Chair, Hannah Nadim said: “Over the past ten years the Fox & Goose has grown its reputation as a friendly, co-operative, sustainable pub, known for its quality and range of beers and drinks. We are delighted that our much-loved pub can be run for the benefit of the community, and we hope the community will join us to celebrate.”

Those wishing to join the 10^th birthday celebrations can keep up-to-date by visiting https://www.foxandgoose.org

NorthernLife March/April/May 24