The Derby pub that came back from the brink
The Abbey Pub is back. A few days ago the pub, once known as Derby's cheapest, announced it will finally reopen after a four-year campaign fought by residents and councillors.
The last pint was pulled at The Abbey in 2019 with a lack of staff and maintenance problems blamed for the demise of the historic and once popular watering hole. Since then we've had a global pandemic that finished off many other pubs, but campaigners weren't deterred. They wanted to save the Grade II* ancient monument and get it back up and running.
The pub itself has been described by Councillor Martin Repton, a key figure in its eventual resurrection, as the “heart of the community”. It originally acted as a hostelry for the local monastery that was built in the 1100s, housing visitors of the Abbey. However it is now the only remaining building.
READ MORE:Balearic Island is 24C in October and the 'perfect' autumn getaway
READ MORE:Peak District walk offering pretty village, 'amazing' views and a cosy pub at the end
While some of the community were campaigning to save their local boozer, there was a large portion of the campaigners who just wanted to see this relic of the past maintained and looked after.
The pub itself had been renovated by Mike Wood and his late wife Vivian, who had poured their “life savings” into the place to turn it into a working and safe establishment. Their refurbishment first started in 1977 after Mike bought the property from Derbyshire archaeological society.
Mike then opened the pub two years later, after winning multiple awards for his efforts in refurbishment and conservation. This is one of the main reasons why locals have been so passionate about the pub being maintained and looked after.
Councillor Repton said: “We had to keep it high profile, we have had to keep the community engaged. This just shows what can happen when the community comes together. Some people had lost hope, people had no idea of when it would have been reopened. We needed someone there permanently on site to make sure that the building is how it should be.”
The campaign included candlelight vigils, petitions and letters to the brewery begging for a new manager to be reinstated. The locals heard nothing but they constantly kept up the fight for the ancient monument to be reinstated to it’s former glory. Now they are just happy that the building will be fully restored to that of its heyday.
The campaign, which included a 3,000-signature petition, saw endorsements from more a stack of local politicians, with Cllr Repton as well as councillors Carmel Swann, Alison Martin and new MP Catherine Atkinson supporting the calls to bring the pub back to life. Campaigners kept a close eye on the pub too and concerns were raised about flooding and the roof, among other issues.
Cllr Repton continued: “We gave them so many options to save the pub. We kept the profile high so that the brewery, Historic England and the local community could make sure that The Abbey was not forgotten like many other pubs in the UK. People have been positive about keeping the pressure up, some lost faith but we are there now. At long last we have been able to get new managers and we wish them every success with the reopening.”
The pub is now reopening on Thursday September 26, with an accompanying announcement of a food menu. This news has been welcomed by the local community with hundreds rushing to Facebook to welcome the announcement.