Rural Community Business Awards 2025

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The winner is: The Rising Sun, Woodcroft

This community pub is the only facility in the village. Each month, around 50 people attend a 4Cs coffee morning with free hot drinks and cake, and transport for anyone who needs one to get out. A widow who comes said, “I feel connected again” and two friends were reconnected after 50 years at the event. Children from the local primary school sing at ‘4Cs at Christmas’. All bands throughout the year have been free, and anyone can perform at the open mic night. The pub has organised community litter picks and is the information first aid point, with community CPR training planned.

There is also a community art wall where local artists can display their work and a community room that can be used as home office, meeting space and is free for not-for-profit hire for those such as the climbers group. The pub footfall has increased by 20% in the last year, making the business secure.

Well done to our runners-up community businesses:

• The Maybush Inn, Great Oakley
• The George, Bethersden

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The winner is: The Locks Inn, Geldeston

Located in a very remote location, the community-owned pub has recently installed a 1km long pipe to access the mains sewerage. Not needing to empty tanks is a carbon saving initiative. It is now considering a Glass Crusher machine which can be highly profitable and offers numerous environmental benefits such as repurposing tons of glass. The pub has installed 86 solar panels, with more planned, and has a cold room which means there are no fridges needed on site – again a carbon saving.

The pub has a decarbonisation plan, which is useful when applying for grants and to see progress. This plan was shared at Plunkett’s conference last year to show other groups what they could do. A travel plan encourages people to walk, bike and come by river, resulting in less traffic through the village. The main outcome is getting towards net zero goals and to save money.

Well done to our runners-up community businesses:

• Ashwater Village Shop
• The Dog Inn, Belthorn

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The winner is: Gairloch and Loch Ewe Action Forum

This community-owned development trust operates the GALE Centre, opening 364 days a year. The recent purchase of the Shieling has started a community pub, zero-waste refinery and monthly community bake stall. The business’ community wealth-building model engages 100 local businesses to meet visitor needs, serving as a best practice example for regenerative tourism in rural development. Supporting local artists and craftsmen is also a priority, with products sold in the gift shop and homemade baking in the cafe.

Over 5% of the local population benefits financially from GALE’s efforts, with over £350,000 per annum injected into the local economy. Any trading surplus is reinvested in community initiatives, like a befriending project with Highland Hospice and a community growing project for fresh produce. During the last two winters, GALE has offered a warm bank and a pay-what-you-can cafe to help those struggling with the cost of living. This initiative ensures that no-one misses out on companionship due to financial constraints.

Well done to our runners-up community businesses:

• Cotherstone Old Chapel Project
• Semley Village Stores

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The winner is: Bishop Wilton Community Shop & Café

This community shop uses local businesses, products and suppliers wherever possible – from coffee beans in the cafe to bread rolls on the shelf. Where there is a new idea, it always researches for local alternatives as a priority.

Cards and postcards are from local artist and eggs are from another local supplier. The flowers sold in the shop come from a village mum, who uses a field behind her house to grow her flowers, and her business is now taking off. A weekly tray-bake delivery is from a local villager who now has now moved to a larger kitchen. Another mum in the village started to make and sell her own specialty breads and, by the shop marketing these, she was able to expand and now supplies further afield. Through great supplier relationships, the cost of pantry staples is kept low.

Well done to our runners-up community businesses: 

• The Radnor Arms
• The Winster Village Shop

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The winner is: Titchmarsh Village Shop

The shop organises several community-focused activities include fetes, open days, theatre lunches, bacon bap mornings, and charity fashion shows. These have drawn consistent participation, nurturing strong village ties and fostering lasting relationships – as well as significantly increasing shop footfall and strengthening local loyalty. A highlight was the Victorian-themed Christmas Fayre, where all generations actively participating. By regularly extending opening hours to coincide with village events, services are more accessible to villagers and visitors alike.

Beyond social engagement, the shop provides meaningful support during challenging times. When two local children faced serious health conditions, its dedicated fundraising through events like the charity fashion show directly supported their families. The shop proactively supports residents who may struggle to visit physically through an informal phone-order and home-delivery service. At the other end of the age spectrum, it hosts educational visits from the local primary school and Brownie pack to help children develop practical shopping skills and budgeting experience.

Well done to our runners-up community businesses:

• The Rising Sun, Woodcroft
• Gairloch and Loch Ewe Action Forum

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The winner is: The George Community Pub, Wickham Market

Damaged by fire in 2013 and the last remaining pub in the village, The George failed a property developer’s planning application, and a Community Benefit Society was formed in 2016. Around £2.5m has been raised to restore and rebuild the pub, including Community Shares, attracting 470 shareholders, the Community Ownership Fund, and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. As a 16th Century Grade II-listed pub, the project has secured the survival of many historically significant structural elements, incorporating them sympathetically into a new structure. Over 50 volunteers have taken part with more than 10,000 volunteer hours spent to date.

When open, The George plans to provide about 18 jobs for the local community. Restoration of the building allows the first floor to be an activity space, not previously available to the public. This space will be used for activities to help with issues such as social isolation and mental health, ranging from a dementia café to Pilates for Parkinson’s sufferers and from an Art Exhibition to Argentine Tango lessons! Training in disability, hearing, visual and dementia awareness is being given to volunteers to aid inclusivity.

Well done to our runners-up community groups:

• Ickleton Lion
• The Elm Tree Inn, Langton Herring

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The winner is: Archie Kitcher, East Boldre Community Stores

Aged 15, Archie played an active role in the Big Helpouts to strip the chapel ahead of building works. He also helped with newsletter distribution. He was one of the first volunteers to sign up to help in the shop once it opened and got his food safety certificate so that he could make sandwiches and vac-pack goods. He also helps with date checking and shelf stocking on a regular basis, even now his DoE is completed. He also plays an active role in deep cleans, stepping in to lead the task and ensure that every area has been tackled.

Last November he decided to organise East Boldre’s first ever Christmas show. Over 50 entrants participated in this very popular event baking mince pies and Christmas cakes, knitting hats and making wreaths, and Archie raised over £1,000 to benefit the local hospice. He has also worked as part of the heritage project team – cleaning gravestones and presenting at community open days.

Well done to our highly-commended finalists:

• Luca Johnston, Westbury Community Shop and Café
• Felix Pagan, Itteringham Community Shop and Café

The winner is: Celia Collett, Brightwell-cum-Sotwell Community Village Stores

Celia was at the forefront of fundraising and establishing the shop in 2010 – and she remains a champion for the shop 15 years on. She comes into the shop most days to support staff and volunteers and to deal with office matters. She maintains the rota for over 40 volunteers and recruits new volunteers and post office workers from the local community.

Celia initiated an afternoon to bring paid workers and volunteers together to get to know each other and share experiences. She addresses individual needs of volunteers giving them appropriate jobs and encourages team belonging. She has provided work experience for young people, some with special needs, with wonderful results. Celia chairs the management committee, bringing enthusiasm and new ideas. She writes a piece about the shop in the village bi-monthly magazine and supports advertising new products on Facebook. She supports local suppliers to sell products in the shop. Celia’s ongoing work has a huge beneficial impact on the whole village.

Well done to our runners-up:

• Rosie Catherwood, Semley Village Stores
• Tony Mobbs, Brockweir and Hewelsfield Village Shop Association

The winner is: Semley Village Stores

This community shop is all about efficient and effective teamwork. It is busy, chatty and fun hub of energy – and the focal point of the village. The shop has nearly 30 volunteers. EarIy birds prefer the opening shift, others give up their lunchtimes, and others take the responsibility of the last shift, closing up, cleaning the coffee machine and cashing up. Rosie runs this team plus the fabulous team of Paid Young People. Everyone has to be flexible and people willingly swap shifts or drop what they are doing to help out.

The shop has built a loyal customer base with regular shopping and café customers from surrounding villages and further afield. It has become a destination cafe for many groups of cyclists and vintage car owners from many locations. They know they will get great service with a smile from all the team, possibly a chat, certainly delicious drinks and food, and definitely great products.

Well done to our runners-up community groups:

• The Drewe Arms, Drewsteignton
• Ickleton Lion