The Crown Inn closed its doors in January 2023 as the last tenant handed back the keys and the owners decided to seek a buyer for the property. As The Crown had been registered as an Asset of Community Value (ACV), Newcastle Parish Council resolved to buy the pub and reclaim The Crown Inn for the community.
The Parish Council discovered that following a change in eligibility criterea, it was able apply for a significant grant from The Community Ownership Fund, a government initiative to help communities take ownership of assets at risk of closure, such as pubs, shops, and community centres.
A community group, The Friends of The Crown Inn (FoTCI), was formed to raise funds in support the grant application and to contribute to cost of the works required to renovate the building.
The calling of a General Election in the spring of 2024 and the subsequent change of government, caused a significant delay in the grant process. However, late in December it was announced that the Parish Council’s bid for funding had been successful.
The purchase of The Crown Inn was completed in February 2025. The Crown is now owned by Newcastle Parish Council. We thank all those who supported us and assisted with our bid for grant funding. Without this, we would not have been successful in obtaining the funds required to buy our village pub.
We had a hugely successful Open Day on March 1st, when we lit the wood burner and threw open the doors to offer a warm welcome to the community. The turn out was excellent as people re-familiarised themselves with the pub, looked over the architect’s drawings, talked with the Parish Council Pub Committee members about the refurbishment and renovations, and shared some memories of their good times in the pub.
With planning permission received earlier than expected the renovation and extention to the building began. The pub and grounds became a building site with access to builders only for health and safety reasons.
The Friends of the Crown Inn (FoTCI), with support from Newcastle Parish Council, were awarded a significant new grant. An award of £20,000 from Shropshire Council’s Shropshire Green Spaces and Active Travel Fund for developing the grounds to the back and front of the pub. The project is called, ‘Newcastle’s Crown Inn Community Garden’ to create an attractive pub garden with seating and parking areas re-surfaced along with a disabled parking area; bike racks and electric bike rechargers; picnic tables including wheelchair access and benches; gazebo, plant boxes, and archway to dining area all produced locally; herbs and sensory planting; wildlife boxes for swifts and hedgehogs; hanging baskets and flowers; hedging to delineate seating from parking area; new picnic tables and solar lighting to the front and back of the pub.
The Friends of The Crown Inn continued to plan a series of fund-raising events with further grants being applied for to fund the refurbishment and building work required to bring the property and grounds to the best possible condition.
On August 30th, Newcastle Parish Council, along with The Friends of The Crown Inn, hosted an open evening to give people the opportunity to access the premises and view the progress that had been made. With a bar open and burgers provided, the evening was a roaring success.
The Crown Inn at Newcastle reopened for business on November 28th, 2025 in the care of a ‘not for profit’ company which had been formed to act as an interim tenant and to manage the business until a tenant is appointed.
Initially opening in the evening on Thursday to Saturday each week as a ‘wet bar’ but now offering a series of pop-up food events such as a curry evening and a Valentine’s day event. We will look to expand our opening hours as circumstances allow.