Brighton pub recognised in national award shortlist

A Brighton community pub has been shortlisted in the Great British Pub Awards.

The Bevendean Co-operative Pub, known as ‘The Bevy’, is in competition with five other pubs around the country to win the award for ‘Best Community Pub’.

The site was formerly home to a pub that was closed down due to a string of violent incidents and anti-social behaviour. The Bevy re-opened in December 2014 as the UK’s first community-owned estate pub funded by 700 shareholders.

Chair of the pub, Warren Carter, said: “We wanted it to be a community hub, like a village hall, where people could meet and come together.”

The pub hosts several community groups including a supper club for the elderly, events for disabled people and a choir.

Earlier in the month it was reported that The Greys pub in Hanover could be set to become Brighton’s second community-owned pub after the freehold was put up for sale.

Mr Carter met with locals to discuss the pub’s future, he said: “We want to see more community pubs here. Everything changes when it becomes a community pub.”

The Great British Pub Awards winners will be announced at the award ceremony on Thursday 7th September.