We visit a Shropshire countryside pub saved by the community who love it and run with love by its manager

So when that hub disappears, it can leave a community bereft and not sure what to do next.

This was the case in the picturesque village of Ryton, set deep in the rolling Shropshire countryside, when its pub The Fox closed down in summer 2022, leaving only a village hall to provide a gathering point and the chance to meet and socialise.

It had felt like the end, but for the spirit of the villagers who, as The Friends of the Fox Inn Ryton, got the pub designated as a community asset then, after a share offer of £250 each saw £150,000 raised and another £300,000 from a Government fund, were able to buy the pub in April 2025.

After nine months’ renovation and rebuilding, the Fox at Ryton officially reopened to the public just before Christmas under the stewardship of general manager Steven Lee.

He said he had lived in Shropshire since the 1980s and in the area for about four years, and said the interview to take on the role had been one of the most rigorous of his life.

He said: “I came on board once the committee had been formed and they needed an experienced manager to get the bar running, but I had to start from scratch and do everything from the supplier relationships and whatnot to see what would actually work here.

“Funny thing is, I’ve worked in music and film and and I’ve done interviews with Dreamworks and the BBC, but I think this was the most rigorous interview I’ve ever been through as I had to sit and do three interviews with the president, the chairman of the board, then the whole board and go from there.

“It was tough, but I was successful and then came straight on board and began building those relationships and getting everything in shape.”

Mr Lee said he had come in to see the pub and, in his own words, “gulped and wondered how [he] was going to get it ready”, but said the hard work had paid off due to the positive reception from the community.

He said: “The community and the board are great and they’ve allowed me to just curate and do everything I think is right for a country pub.

“The support has been huge as we’re getting people travelling to us from surrounding villages and further and keep coming back and saying it’s their new favourite local pub.

“We’re doing huge numbers on the wet sales, as we can’t do food at the moment due to the kitchen being finished, and we can support ourselves just on the wet sales alone.”

Mr Lee said the pub was a freehold and while it had an agreement with Molson Coors which tied it to four taps, the rest of the drink selection came from suggestions by customers and a wish to champion local breweries, which included Salopian, Ludlow Brewery, Hobsons and a few other Shropshire breweries.

He said he took great pride in being able to help in the journey of reviving a pub thought lost and allowing it to become a vibrant part of the community.

He said: “It means everything to me right now because I’ve been here from the start, through all the decisions and how it’s come together and now it’s all in place, it feels like home.

“The community, including those I met in a pop-up pub in the village hall prior to moving in, have made it feel like home and it’s just really nice.

“There are people who are saying that it’s better than it ever was before and it’s lovely to see it building before we move onto stage three and start serving food.”