A campaign to save the King's Arms, a 300-year-old pub in Polebrook, Northamptonshire, has raised nearly £450,000 since January, with support from celebrities including Harry Potter star Jim Broadbent and Strictly Come Dancing's Craig Revel Horwood.
The pub, which has operated for over 300 years, is at risk of closure due to rising taxes and operating costs. Local residents hope to buy it back through a not-for-profit business known as a charitable community benefit society, if they reach a financial target of £650,000.
Campaign Raises Nearly £450,000
Kieron Maughan, who leads the Save the King's Arms campaign, told the Daily Star: "I'm not even entertaining the possibility of not reaching the target [of £650,000]."
Maughan added: "This venture is one of the first of its kind in the UK. Like many in Polebrook, we enjoy a good pint in good company."
Celebrity Supporters and Supernatural Claims
Chef Tom Kerridge has asked people to "dig deep, because rural pubs are what keep us all going." Other backers include Mobland actor Anson Boon, singer Paul Young, and presenters Charlie Boorman and Fenella Fudge.
Jim Broadbent posted a video saying the "wonderful" King's Arms "has been around for 300 years and will hopefully be around for another 300 with your help."
Maughan noted the pub's "incredible boost to the community" and mentioned supernatural activity, saying: "We've had someone who knows about the supernatural come and take a look. They just looked at it and went 'yep – there's something going on in there'. I mean, if you have a pub that's 300 years old, there's going to be something, isn't there?"
