George and Dragon in Hudswell looking for a new tenant

The George and Dragon in Hudswell, owned by Hudswell Community Pub Limited (HCP), is on a mission to find a new tenant to take over the much-loved pub from March next year, after the current manager announced they would be stepping down for personal reasons.

The society says the new licensee would be “crucial” to maintaining the pub’s role as both a community hub and a major draw for tourists.

Martin Booth, 73, one of the directors of the HCP, said the pub has come a long way since residents stepped in to save it in 2008.

The George and Dragon in Hudswell, North Yorkshire (Image: CAMRA)

He said: “The community bought the pub 15 years ago; it closed in 2008 when the owners went bankrupt.

“After a year, we formed a society and raised the funds through community shares to buy the pub, which reopened in 2010. It now belongs to Hudswell Community Pub Limited.”

Since then, the George and Dragon has thrived as one of the UK’s first community-owned pubs.

Mr Booth said: “There are around 150 now, but we were one of the first.

“The model works really well. Unlike other pubs, which may have to close if the tenant leaves, we can find someone else or run it ourselves as a community. We’ve done that before, but it’s a big task for volunteers, so we’d much rather find someone new to take it on.”

As the only pub in the village, its value to residents is significant, and it has been a central community hub for many generations in the area.

The George and Dragon’s reputation is also well established, having won the national CAMRA Pub of the Year award in 2016, alongside several other regional awards.

The 73-year-old said: “It’s the main place where people meet and socialise.

“We had a wake there this afternoon for someone who recently died; that’s the kind of thing the pub provides for the community. It’s a catalyst for things that go on in the village, from the pantomime to the charity projects.”

Located in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Hudswell attracts an influx of tourists in the summer months.

Earlier this year, the village also opened St Michael’s Lodge – a 17-bed hostel for walkers and cyclists in the converted parish church, which Martin said could be a business opportunity for the new tenant.

He said: “It’s been open since May and it’s doing well.

 “But we could certainly do with increasing the number of customers next year – and having a pub that provides food, and drink is a big advantage for us, and a big advantage for the pub too.”

Mr Booth said the community hopes to find someone who can help continue the pub’s legacy.

He said: “We want to carry on having the successful, thriving development we’ve got, with someone committed to providing a service for the village, and to keeping this community pub at the centre of Hudswell life.”

Anyone interested can request full details by emailing h.sweetenham@gmail.com.