Milestone for 'amazing' Shropshire pub which has "turned a once-dying village with no facilities into a thriving one"

Owned and operated by Neenton Community Society, the charitable Community Benefit Society formed in 2012 to undertake the project, The Pheasant is one of the UK’s leading country inns with rooms, and only last year was selected by the Times newspaper as one of the 100 best places to stay in the UK.

The success  is in large measure down to the hard work, talents and commitment of managers Mark Harris and Sarah Cowley, who took on the job in the hectic few months before re-opening in 2014, and the hours of volunteer input from the Society helping them manage and develop the business.

John Pickup, Chairman of the Society, said: “We’re delighted with what we’ve been able to achieve over the last 13 years since the project started, not just building a top-notch business for the benefit of the community but continuing to make our way in an exceptionally challenging market.

"This project has turned a once-dying village with no facilities into a thriving one.”

Irena Pistun, Member Relations Officer for Co-operatives UK, which originally registered the Society for the community in 2012, attended a celebration evening which featured local band “Shades of Grey”.

 Irena said, “The Pheasant is an amazing example, Shropshire can be proud,  of showing how a member-owned business run by a small community, to benefit the community, can be up there with the best in the country."

In early 2020, Neenton Community Society was crowned the best rural social enterprise in the country in the Rural Business Awards.

Irena added: "It’s great to see the Pheasant is delivering so much against the Society's charitable objects of rural regeneration, with around 100 local young people given employment and work experience since it re-opened, and over £1 million put into their pockets in wages."

Last year, Mark and Sarah also took on the tenancy of another pub that had closed, the Tally Ho Inn at Bouldon in Corvedale.

Mark, Head Chef of both the pubs, said: “We’re thrilled with the way our new business is developing, with great support from our locals and customers coming from all parts of Shropshire.”

The Tally Ho was voted Midlands Pub of the Year in the Pub and Bar Awards.