About The George

After years standing empty on our High Street, The George is thriving again – and we couldn’t be happier! Read our story below and find out more about our vision, our community and the fantastic people and organisations that helped us make The George what it is today.

Our Story

Our efforts to save The George began in early 2018, when the previous owners, Camphill Village Trust (CVT), announced plans to close the café and sell the building. At the time, the outlook for the village was bleak. Two local pubs had closed their doors and other businesses including the Post Office were under threat. It was clear the loss of The George would leave a big gap on the High Street.

A small group of us decided to act. We formed a pressure group (‘ReNewnham’), held two public meetings and canvassed local views. After successfully persuading the district council to list The George as a ‘community asset’, in January 2019 we formed a Community Benefit Society and launched a campaign to buy the building and turn it into a mixed-use village hub.

Local support

Many local people supported us by buying community shares, making donations and pledging practical help. We also raised money by putting on events and applying for grants.

In late 2021 we applied for a match-funding grant from the government Community Ownership Fund (COF). Early the following year we were told our bid had been successful, and in October 2022 we were able to buy the building. Thanks to a fantastic effort by volunteers and local builders, the building was completely renovated and we finally opened our doors to the public in March 2023.

The George was originally built in the late eighteenth century as a large inn. It has been many things over the years, including a pub, hotel, and family home.

Under Camphill ownership The George was a popular meeting spot with a café, shop and weavery (above) where adults with special needs worked alongside local people.

Our vision

Our vision has always been to make The George a welcoming, family-friendly place where everybody can feel at home and enjoy shared activities – whether it’s listening to live music, meeting friends in the café, or taking part in a Yoga class. Although we have to cover our costs, we’re not looking to make a profit. Many of our events are free, and our regular talks and community lunches are ‘Pay As You Feel’ – there’s no fixed price, so they’re open to everyone to enjoy.

Our Volunteers

Because we’re owned and run by the community, we rely heavily on our volunteers to do their bit for The George. As well as helping with day-to-say tasks, volunteers also enable us to meet our wider goal of building a self-reliant, resilient community that can survive challenges like Covid and climate change. It’s all about collective effort and positive energy – and we’ve proved we can do amazing things when we work together!

If you’re interested in joining the team, we’d love to hear from you. For further information, just click here.

Right: Volunteers at work in The George garden.

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Supporters, sponsors & project partners

Many people and organisations helped us achieve our goal of saving The George. As well as our loyal shareholders, volunteers and staff, we would especially like to thank the following:

The Community Ownership Fund

Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC)

Gloucestershire County Council

Barnwood Trust

The Co-op Foundation

The Reach Fund

‘The Pub Is The Hub’

Forest of Dean District Council

Forest Voluntary Action Forum (FVAF)

Freeman Homes

‘The Pub Is The Hub’

St Peter’s Church