A Community Inn

Whilst the Holly Bush Inn at Brown Edge has a long tradition of serving travellers and the local community, like many pubs it has been severely affected by changes in lifestyle.

For a short period, ten years ago, all the eight pubs or drinking establishments had closed including the Holly Bush, A planning application was made to demolish the pub and build houses on the site.  Peter Turner and Christina Jebb organised the registration of the pub as an “Asset of Community Value” by the District Council, which helped to prevent its demolition.  The owner was then approached by two local people, Trevor Johnson and Chris Willis, who tooK on a lease, keeping the pub open. By this time the building was deterorating quickly. However we now had our Pub open again, and the Hill Top Rose and Crown had also reopened. 

However the Hollybush was again threatened with closure because the car park was put up for sale after planning had been passed.  This was thwarted at the last minute after the Parish Council aided by a group of local business people purchased the car park at very short notice in order to protect the pub, however this was at full building land value.

At the same time an option for the community to purchase the pub was obtained if it was underwritten by two local business people.

A community bid to raise funds to purchase the pub unfortunately failed to find enough support, and the underwiters had to find the money to purchase. 

They did so, and also undertook the substantial repairs and conversion necessary to meet modern safety standards. 

The pub re-opened as “The Bush” which is what it has always been called by the locals, after being closed for six weeks, on Friday 8th March 2024.

A Community Interest Company (Brown Edge Community Inn) has taken on a lease and it employs two managers Dave and Lisa Jennings, to operate the business on their behalf.  Any profits generated will be reinvested into the fabric of the building securing its future.