Community campaign to buy and reopen the Railway Inn at Norton Bridge passes £75,750 pledged

A community group in Norton Bridge is trying to bring the Railway Inn back to life by raising the funds to buy the building and run it as a community pub.

The pub is currently vacant and for sale, and the group behind the campaign says this is a rare chance to secure it for the long term as a community-owned hub.

As of three days ago, the campaign says £75,750 has been pledged towards the goal.

Why residents are trying to save it

The community group says the Railway Inn has long been a key meeting place locally, and that Norton Bridge has very limited amenities beyond St Luke’s Church Hall, which can host one-off events but can’t replace the social role of a pub.

They also highlight the impact the pub had when it was open, with some residents saying it helped reduce isolation and improved wellbeing.

A quick history of the Railway Inn

The Railway Inn is described as “a building of two halves”:

• The rear started life as a farmhouse known as Rushy Croft, built roughly between 1775 and 1795.

• A Victorian frontage was later added, possibly around 1845.

It was operating as a public house by 1849, when it was known as the Railway Inn and run by landlord George Kent.

The story of the pub is tied closely to the railway’s development at Norton Bridge, which grew around the station and later became a busy junction area.

The group also notes the Railway Inn’s links to the Oddfellows Friendly Society, which reportedly met there until the 1970s, and that the pub was owned for many years by Joules brewery before being sold in the 1980s.

In more recent years, the pub:

• Closed for the first time in 2016

• Reopened in 2021 as the home of Izaak Walton Brewhouse

• Then closed again in January 2025

How the community plan works

The group’s plan is to buy the Railway Inn through a Community Benefit Society, called The Railway Inn Community Pub Limited.

Their aim is to run it as more than a traditional pub: a warm, welcoming community hub that supports local life and local businesses (while still, in their words, serving a good pint).

Shares and pledges

The campaign is currently running a pledge phase to test whether enough community support exists to proceed. Pledges are described as non-binding expressions of interest in buying community shares.

Key points they’ve shared:

• Shares would be £1 each

• Minimum share purchase: 250 shares (£250)

• The society would be run democratically: one member, one vote (regardless of how many shares you buy)

The pledge campaign is set to run until 28 February, with an overall fundraising target of £275,000 to purchase and renovate the pub and secure its future.

How people can support (including if you can’t pledge)

The group says there are a few ways to help:

• Pledge to buy shares (if you’re able to and feel confident you can follow through)

• Donate for those who can’t pledge but still want to support the project (via their GoFundMe fundraiser)

• Spread the word by sharing updates and encouraging others to get involved

The campaign website also includes background information, updates and ways to get involved.

For full information:

• Visit their website https://railwayinn.org/

• Follow them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/186JBUCvrK/