New landlords reopen historic community pub

A long-standing pub in Bishop's Castle, Shropshire, has reopened five months after its closure, following criticism from locals who had called its previous shutdown an "embarrassment".

The Three Tuns Inn closed on 11 July due to "unexpected circumstances," according to former owner Heineken Star Pubs. It is now operating under the management of The Shed, a Shropshire-based events and hospitality company.

"The hospitality industry faces many challenges with rising costs," said Darren Dixon, one of the new landlords. "But this is a fantastic pub that really should never have closed."

The inn is located next to the historic Three Tuns Brewery, established in 1642 and considered the oldest licensed brewing site in Britain. Although the pub and brewery have been separately owned for the past 20 years, they continue to support each other.

Over the years, the inn has hosted notable visitors including Rod Stewart and Robert Plant. A blue plaque commemorates Jerry Lordan, a songwriter for artists such as Cliff Richard.

"The pubs remote location requires hands-on management," Dixon explained. Plans are underway in collaboration with the brewery to "refresh the pubs image" after it had fallen into disrepair, with further refurbishments scheduled for 2026.

"Feedback so far has been overwhelmingly positive," Dixon added. "Beyond cleaning up and adding local beers, we havent needed to work hard to bring people back. Its clear the community missed having the pub activeits always been a key local hub."

Bishop's Castle mayor, Councillor Josh Dicken, welcomed the reopening. He described the closure as a "serious situation" that needed addressing and noted that locals were giving the pub another chance.

"Pubs are closing across the country, and we didnt want Bishop's Castle to follow that trend," he said. "The top room is already busy with community groups and events. Its a valuable community space that has hosted many functions and a few famous faces over the years."

Author: Sophia Brooks