Help one man's mission to save his village pub
Having grown up in the area, Dan Thomas was all to aware of the fate that befell a historic 18th century pub in a village on the outskirts of Wem.
And now the 27-year-old set himself a challenge of raising £30,000 in 45 days to buy The Tilley Raven and turn it in to the local pub he believes it can be.
The black and white building had the reputation of being a great food and drink establishment but then, a year ago, the doors closed and its future has remained uncertain.
Dan said: "Every once in a while, the opportunity to do something special comes up. In this case it's to take a countryside pub which, in the not to distant past was well-loved by many and the centre of the community, and give it a brand new lease of life.
"Many people dream of having their own restaurant - I am one of those people, after falling in love with the Tilley Raven. My vision is to create somewhere where we can propagate memorable experiences within a friendly atmosphere and bring the community together to share these good times.
"The vision is to create a hub for the community within this destination restaurant with the main focus on people and the comprehensive offer rather than just food. Of course there will be a major focus on the food and drink, but the idea is to create something that will develop community cohesion."
Once some remedial cosmetic works are complete, Dan plans to work with local producers to bring in food and drink sourced in Shropshire.
He has launched a kickstarter project to make up a shortfall in cash. He has the majority of the money but is keen to bring locals on board.
He added: "Not only will they be helping us rejuvenate a beautiful site, but genuinely they’ll be making a dream come true. In return, we want them to feel part of something, that we think, is quite unique and special in the area."
Dan grew up in Wem and went to the Sir John Talbot School. He has spent the past eight years working in education and residential childcare so is used to being highly organised and managing tricky situations.
His family own a local greengrocers and feed merchants and his links to the town are strong.
The kickstarter runs until June 7. So far just over £3,000 has been raised. Anyone wanting to join should go to kickstarter.com/projects/tilleyraven/the-tilley-raven
Tilley has just been put forward to become a Shropshire Council conservation area. The village green has several half-timbered buildings, seven of which are listed. If granted conservation status, the village will be protected from certain development or work taking place.
