East Hoathly pub wins award after £650,000 community rescue

The King’s Head in East Hoathly won the Community Business Award from the Sussex Chamber of Commerce, out of 14 community-run businesses.

The community raised £650,000 to buy the premises by offering shares to locals following concerns that it would be sold to private developers.

Nusrat Ghani, MP for Sussex Weald, visited the pub following its success, saying the pub “is a testament to the vision and hard work of the community of East Hoathly and to receive the Community Business Award is an amazing accolade that the team really do deserve.”

Formerly the old school house for the village, the King’s Head was the last remaining pub in East Hoathly, with its owners, Bob and Tracy, set to retire.

Village residents feared the Grade 1-listed building would be sold and redeveloped for residential use, leaving the village without its “beating heart”, as local resident Allison Walker described it.

To save their pub, Ms Walker and other villagers formed the Kings Head Community Benefit Society.

After registering their intention to buy with Wealden District Council, the Society then negotiated terms with the seller of the property.

After setting out a five-year business plan, carrying out a valuation survey and negotiating the purchase terms, the group of concerned villagers then had to set about raising the funds necessary to purchase the pub.

A total of 343 investors, most of whom were local residents, invested in community shares to raise the £650,000 needed.

Ms Walker said she was “absolutely thrilled” when the purchase went through in March 2026, adding: “For generations, The King’s Head pub in East Hoathly has been much more than just somewhere to enjoy a drink.

“It’s the beating heart of the local community. A social hub that’s part of the very fabric of the village.

“A place where stories are shared, friendships are forged and community spirit thrives. Where people meet, connect and unite.”

Five months later, the pub has reopened its kitchens and won its first award under the new ownership.

Ms Ghani, after visiting the King’s Head and pulling a pint with the owners, said: “East Hoathly had already lost one pub and the local community were not willing to see another one close.

“They have really put the pub back on the map with its refreshed interior, tasty menu and a range of locally brewed beers.

“We have another local success story which is welcoming many new customers from the local area.

“Allison and Kevin, members of the management committee, shared with me the journey of raising £650,000 from the local community, showcasing the renovations, much of it undertaken by local volunteers and tradespersons, to the current day and their future plans to expand with a new function room and improve the amenities on offer.”