Chitterne’s King’s Head pub earns spot in CAMRA Good Beer Guide after community rescue
Small Wiltshire village rallies to reopen pub, now recognised for quality ale
The King's Head pub in Chitterne, South Wiltshire, has been recognised in the prestigious Good Beer Guide, published today by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).
Just 15 months ago, local residents raised a six-figure sum to purchase and reopen the pub for the community after it had been closed for five years.
The pub's inclusion in the Guide is a testament to the dedication of landlords Nick and Jo White, and The Chitterne Community Pub Group (CCPG), who raised funds to buy the pub from its locally-based freehold owner.
Keith Foster, Good Beer Guide coordinator for Salisbury & South Wilts CAMRA, presented Nick White with the certificate, acknowledging the pub as a tremendous example of community revival.
Nick White expressed the significance of maintaining quality real ale, stating, "When you run a pub you try your best to keep good beer and that is what we do. We have got quite a strict regime in the cellar to keep the beer nice and fresh and alive."
The journey to reopening involved raising much of the £315,000 sale price through a share issue, supplemented by a loan from an anonymous private investor.
Over 100 people, many from the village of Chitterne, participated in the share issue, and the efforts culminated in a hard core of 30 CCPG volunteers investing hundreds of hours to refurbish the pub.
Their work was supplemented by a £25,000 grant from Wiltshire Council’s Community Hub Fund, with renovation costs exceeding £60,000.
The revived King's Head has since attracted customers from beyond the village and built a reputation for its food alongside quality ale.
Mike Neve of CCPG expressed delight at the inclusion in CAMRA’s guide, affirming that the vision for a typical country pub offering good ale, food, and a warm welcome has been achieved.
The recognition in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide marks another milestone for the King's Head and community, celebrating the real ale found in Chitterne.