Chitterne villagers need £65k to bring The King's Head back to life

The King's Head closed four years ago and was designated an Asset of Community Value on February 16, 2022.

It's located in the isolated village of Chitterne on the southern end of Salisbury Plain which has no shop, post office or regular bus service.

Being the only watering hole in the village, The King's Head was a "key aspect of village life" and acted as a community hub.

Widespread support from the villagers resulted in the formation of the Chitterne Community Pub Group to try and bring pub back to life.

The King's Head in Chitterne. (Image: Trevor Porter)

The group promised to facilitate a prescription dispenser and a volunteer-run shop selling essentials inside the pub.

A community share offer has so far received pledges totalling 75 per cent of the target £250k needed to make purchase of the pub a reality.

John Dillon, a member of the Pub Group, said the King's Head would become a "reinvigorated village hub" which would bring people together and forge a "great community spirit".

He added: "The level of support from the village and surrounding communities demonstrates the belief and enthusiasm to get the pub reopened as a community owned asset.

"The village and the Pub Group are very close to realising their dream of a reopened King's Head serving all the surrounding villages, as well as Chitterne."

Villagers have pledged £185k to reopen the pub. (Image: Google Maps)

The group must raise a further £65k in share pledges if it wants to ensure a long-term sustainable future for the pub.

"We would love as many people as possible to invest in our community share offer to make this a vibrant community pub and hub once again," said Mr Dillon.

Pub owner Kenton Stone appealed to the government planning inspector to convert the pub into a house following Wiltshire Council’s rejection of the scheme in May 2022.

Read more: ​Wiltshire pub for sale could become a house under new plans

However, inspector Matthew Jones dismissed Mr Stone's appeal on June 27, 2023.

Mr Jones said the proposal would result in the "unacceptable loss of a community facility" and that the proposed works would impact the special architectural and historic interest of the Grade II listed building.

He concluded: "The proposed development conflicts with the development plan when read as a whole and the other considerations before me do not indicate that I should make my decisions other than in accordance with the development plan."