"Vision" for Manor House Pub unveiled as Growing Places plans to open nursery and community hub, with work starting soon
Residents have embraced the new “vision” for a former pub which closed suddenly two years ago.
The Manor House Pub in Court Lane, Drayton, shut up shop on November 24, 2023, following a shocking announcement by its previous owner, Greene King.
The closure sparked concerns amongst locals, prompting the establishment of a community group, Save the Manor House, which has spent the last two years fighting to save the pub.
The group became an asset of community value (ACV) to bid for the pub if it went up for sale, but Greene King did not disclose financial information in order for a sale to take place.
In October of last year, Growing Places confirmed they would take over the venue, creating a new nursery and community hub, with a welcome event taking place on Saturday, January 17.
The event, which took place between 1pm and 2.30pm, saw crowds of people in attendance to get an insight into the plans.
Jackie Warren, of Growing Places, said: “We’ve met in the Manour House Pub in Drayton to show some of our local residents our vision for this amazing pub which is going to become our intergenerational community hub.
“So we are going to have a nursery on one side for children and babies from six months up to school age and then we have an additional side which will be for the community.”
Building works are due to start in two weeks time with a completion date anticipated in September - in time to welcome the first group of children to its nursery.
Jackie added: “The community space is where we can meet with our elders, teenagers, different groups within the community so we can all come together and share experiences through creativity - that’s at the centre of everything we do at Growing Places - Fun, kindness, respect and responsibility.”