Community pub Rose and Thistle, Rockbourne, reopens under new owners

The Rose and Thistle, in Rockbourne, marked its grand re-opening on Friday, August 23, with a party complete with live music and a pizza van which around 200 people attended.

Affectionately known by locals as "the RAT", the pub is a Grade II-listed, 16th-century building which closed in May as the former owner struggled to make it financially viable.

The pub's future became uncertain when its former owner explored the option of converting the pub into two semi-detached cottages after unsuccessfully having the pub on the market for two years.

Read more: Petition launched to save Rose and Thistle pub, Rockbourne

Rob and Steph Greville-Heygate, from Downton, bought the freehold as a distant fear the heart of the community would be lost to housing developers became a fast-approaching reality.

Graham Branagan spearheaded a Community Interest Group of passionate locals who are now leasing the pub to keep it operating as a village hub.

The 55-year-old, who has lived in Rockbourne for 15 years, had mixed emotions about the grand opening. He said: "I felt partly relief, slight anxiety that the new tills were going to work and everything got off as planned and partly excitement because it's really exciting where we're going.

"There's a real resurgence of enthusiasm to make this pub a centre of the community as they always were."

Graham Branagan, Rob Greville-Heygate and Darren Hansford. (Image: Newsquest)

The new community-centred ownership is bringing a "renewal of enthusiasm" to the Rose and Thistle, according to Rob, 42, who recognises that he is simply a custodian of the village hub and hopes he can hand the pub down through generations when the time comes.

With a handful of childhood memories of the pub, Rob wants to "continue tradition and bring everyone together".

He said: "It was not part of our five-year life plan but a lot of friends came here regularly and it suddenly got a bit serious when Chris could not find a buyer.

"Chris was fantastic and he ran an amazing pub but people move on with their lives. He just wanted to pass it on to the next custodian. Chris would have been very pleased for it not to go to housing which the only alternative was."

The pub embraces the traditional values of a public house which welcomes anyone from all walks of life into a place they can catch up and share news over a pint without judgement.

Rob is "incredibly grateful" for the help of the CIC, which is weighing up its options for Government funding to maintain the pub and prevent it falling into disrepair for the benefit of the community.

Leaseholder Graham Branagan with landlords Lucy and Darren Hansford and freeholder Rob Greville-Heygate. (Image: Newsquest)

Landlords Lucy, 46, and Darren, 55, Hansford with help from their daughter Daisy, 16, are responsible for the day-to-day running of the pub.

Lucy worked under the previous owner of the Rose and Thistle for three years before it closed and said the reopening has been "absolutely fantastic as it has brought all of the community together".

"It's an integral part of the village," she added.

Stocked with local beers from Downton Brewery and Stone Daisy, the Rose and Thistle opens from 6pm to 11pm on Friday, noon to 11pm on Saturday and noon to 8pm on Sunday.

Pizza is currently the only hot food on the menu but Lucy hopes to become a "full-service pub" when things settle and community funding is granted.