Pub backed by Rivals star nominated as community asset
The Swan in Enford could be given extra protectionsto keep it open
A Wiltshire pub where a Hollywood actor pulled pints as its community strived to save it has been nominated as an Asset of Community Value.
Villagers leapt to save The Swan at Enford, near Pewsey, after the licensee left.
Rupert Everett, who stars in Rivals – the Disney+ hit based on the Jilly Cooper novels – and is the voice of Prince Charming in the Shrek movie franchise, joined his neighbours behind the bar.
In March, village newcomers Sophie Cooper and Andy Wiggins stepped in with fresh funding, allowing the pub to reopen.
Now the parish council has taken formal steps to ensure the pub is protected for the community.
Designation as an Asset of Community Value would mean that if the pub is ever put up for sale, the community would be given the opportunity to bid for it in order to keep it in public use.
The parish council told Wiltshire Council, which is determining the application: “The Swan has long been at the heart of village life and a vital gathering place for residents of Enford and surrounding communities.
“It is clear that The Swan is an asset of significant value to the community.
“Protecting it will help preserve the social fabric and wellbeing of our village for years to come.
“We hope the nomination will be supported.”
In its submission, the council said the building’s primary use has furthered the “social well-being” of the community and that this use is likely to continue for at least the next five years.
The Swan is a Grade II-listed 17th-century coaching inn, and is the only pub serving Enford and the nearby area.
It was named Best Rural Pub in the UK by the Countryside Alliance in 2018, and has been included in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide for several years.
The nomination states that the pub “serves as the primary community meeting place for the village,” and “hosts a range of regular events and activities, including a weekly quiz night, a monthly coffee morning, and the annual Swanfest music and beer festival.”
It has also supported local charities and served as a hub during the pandemic by providing deliveries and other assistance to residents.
Since the departure of the previous tenant, the pub has been managed by Swan Enford Trading and run by a group of more than 50 volunteers from the village.
New majority shareholders have since taken over but continue to employ a mix of paid staff and volunteers, with a focus on hiring from the local area.
Salisbury and South Wilts CAMRA has supported the nomination, highlighting both the pub’s community and historical value.
Enford Parish Council has said the “continued commitment of volunteers” demonstrates “the importance of The Swan to the community and also the level of local support for its continuance.”
A decision from Wiltshire Council is expected by the end of July.