Exeter residents launch consultation over future of village pub

Neighbours of the St David’s area in Exeter are exploring ways to re-open the Iron Bridge Inn as a community-owned venture.

The pub on St David’s Hill has been closed for two years post the pandemic, prompting locals to contemplate a collective buyback initiative.

Residents have formed a working group to look into the logistics of purchasing and renovating the pub.  

Plans include selling shares to community members and seeking grant funding for the refurbishment.

Dan Raven-Ellison, a local resident actively involved in the venture, said: “We don’t want it to become another nail salon. Once you lose a space like that, you lose it forever.”

“The presence of a community-owned pub would, we feel, greatly enhance that community spirit in St David’s,” he added.

Mr Raven-Ellison and his neighbours have distributed over a thousand flyers in the area this week to spread awareness and encourage community participation.

Residents are actively contributing through an online questionnaire, expressing preferences for pub offerings like food, live music, art and cultural events.

The survey also probes community interest in various roles, from the initial project setup to the day-to-day operations of the pub.

The survey results will be published and presented to a public meeting on 4 October at the Exeter Community Centre when the proposal will be discussed further.