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Community volunteers rally to refresh The Blue Bell village pub for the New Year

Introduction

The Blue Bell, a community-owned and award-winning village pub established in 1795, has shown the strength of local support after closing its doors for one week in January to carry out essential maintenance and a much-needed refresh.

What they did

To prepare the pub for the New Year, volunteers and shareholders came together over six days to carry out a wide range of improvement work. This included repainting chairs and tables, refreshing ceilings and walls, and tidying storage areas and the beer garden.

The temporary closure allowed the work to be completed efficiently, ensuring the pub could reopen in a better position to continue serving as the heart of the village. Like many hospitality venues, The Blue Bell has faced significant challenges during the current economic climate, making the collective effort all the more important.

The community reaction

The work highlighted the strong sense of ownership and pride felt by those involved with the pub. Volunteers and shareholders committed their time and skills to ensure the space remains welcoming and fit for the wide range of activities it hosts throughout the year.

Impact

As a hub for village life, The Blue Bell supports a broad programme of community events, including over-60s lunches, craft groups, a men’s shed, local business networking, a crib club, a village market stall for excess produce, children’s Easter hunts and charity quiz nights. These run alongside regular entertainment such as open mic nights, karaoke, live bands, themed evenings, workshops and pop-up shops.

The pub has also played a role in fundraising, raising over £600 for Macmillan Cancer Support and more than £3,000 for Movember over the past year.

Summary

Despite ongoing financial pressures, The Blue Bell continues to demonstrate resilience through community determination and volunteer support. By working together, those involved are helping to secure the future of a much-loved village pub and ensuring it remains a space where people can connect, support one another and take part in local life — values strongly championed by PubAid.

About

The Blue Bell Inn, Arkendale

The Blue Bell is a community-owned village pub with a history dating back to 1795. Run with the support of local shareholders and volunteers, the pub provides a welcoming space for residents while hosting a wide range of social, cultural and charitable events throughout the year.
Moor Ln, Arkendale, Knaresborough HG5 0QT
Go to pub website

Local Constituency

Harrogate and Knaresborough

Local MP

Tom Gordon
Go to local MP website
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