Shut ? but not without a fight - Chardstock Devon
15c Thatched The George Inn in Chardstock Devon,   with an 1980s annex extension at the rear  - sadly now seems closed permanently after being shut during the Covid pandemic and standing empty thereafter. 

In 2022, having fallen into disrepair, the residents formed the George Inn Continuity Group after Chardstock Parish Council recognised it as an asset of community value.     <a href="https://axminster.nub.news/news/local-news/chardstock-residents-fight-for-future-of-dilapidated-village-pub-162032" rel="noreferrer nofollow">axminster.nub.news/news/local-news/chardstock-residents-f...</a>
The pub is owned by the Wellington Pub Group – the largest free-of-tie pub estate in the UK, owned by British businessmen the Reuben brothers, named the second richest family in the UK by the Sunday Times Rich List in 2020. 
Jon Goss of the George Inn Continuity Group said the company claims to be investing in rural communities but they had left the village pub &quot;falling into rack and ruin&quot; and a lack of maintenance on the building is said to have seen the ceiling collapse.
It was then advertised for a 20-year lease by Bettesworths, <a href="https://www.bettesworths.co.uk/pubs/for-sale/axminster/2435" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.bettesworths.co.uk/pubs/for-sale/axminster/2435</a> but residents were concerned the current condition of the building has resulted in a lack of interest.  They called for the owners to take action and renovate the pub, in hope it will be reopened in the future. 
Mr Goss said: &quot;It is pivotally important to the village and the only pub in Chardstock. The skittles league played there, it always hosted lots of Christmas events and was the epi-centre of the annual street fayre.&quot;
Mr Goss said the local conservation officer had a &quot;duty of care to look after listed buildings&quot; but it had taken months to encourage them to contact the Wellington Pub Group to discuss the future of the inn.   It is now understood that the conservation officer has been in contact with the company, which has since commissioned a survey of the building and they are currently waiting for a report on this.


Picture with thanks - copyright <a href="https://lynnswaffles.com/2012/07/11/arthur-larcombe-and-chardstock/" rel="noreferrer nofollow">lynnswaffles.com/2012/07/11/arthur-larcombe-and-chardstock/</a>
chardstock devon