Bringing Back The Boot Inn
A community-driven project to purchase and revive The Boot Inn
Latest Pledge Total £100,350
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Latest Pledge Total £100,350 ~
Hello.
Welcome to Shipton Needs a Pub (SNAP), the driving force behind the revitalisation of The Boot Inn in Shipton Bellinger.
As a passionate group of locals, we’ve come together to form Shipton Community Pub Limited, a community benefit society dedicated to bringing this beloved village pub back to life. Our goal is to raise the funds to purchase and reopen The Boot Inn as a thriving, inclusive community hub where residents and visitors can enjoy good company, quality real ales, and delicious food. Through SNAP, we’re not just reopening a pub; we’re strengthening the heart of our community and ensuring The Boot Inn remains a cherished gathering place for generations to come.
Our mission & values
At SNAP (Shipton Needs A Pub), our mission is simple and powerful: to raise the funds needed to purchase and reopen The Boot Inn as a thriving community pub at the heart of Shipton Bellinger. The Boot Inn will be restored as a welcoming, vibrant hub where residents, families, and visitors can gather, connect, and enjoy everything a great village pub should offer.
Our vision is to blend the warmth and heritage of a traditional English pub with the inclusivity and purpose of a modern community space. We are committed to serving quality real ales, locally sourced food, and creating an atmosphere where everyone feels they belong. Through sustainable operations, local employment, and a diverse calendar of community events, The Boot Inn will once again enrich the social and cultural life of our village.
How we are structured
SNAP (Shipton Needs A Pub) is the public-facing campaign, created to bring the village together, raise awareness, and mobilise support.
The legal entity behind the project is Shipton Community Pub Ltd (SCPL), the organisation that will own and run The Boot Inn.
SCPL is a Community Benefit Society (CBS)
Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
CBS Registration Number: 9372
As a CBS, SCPL is run for the benefit of the community, not for private profit. All surplus generated is reinvested into the pub and wider village initiatives, ensuring long-term protection and stability.
Be Part of the Journey – Help Return The Boot Inn to Our Community
By making a donation, you are directly supporting the community’s effort to purchase and revive The Boot Inn, turning it into a thriving village pub for everyone to enjoy. Your contribution, big or small, will help us bring back a vital hub where friendships are made, memories are shared, and the community spirit of Shipton Bellinger can flourish. Together, we can make this vision a reality and secure a brighter future for our village.
Why a Community Pub works
Community-owned pubs throughout the UK are among the most successful and resilient types of pubs in operation today. According to the Plunkett Foundation, community pubs have a long-term survival rate of 99.3% and the number of community-owned pubs has increased by 62.6% over the past five years, even as traditional pubs continue to close nationwide.
These incredible success rates exist because community pubs are:
Owned by the people they serve
Local residents become members and gain a democratic voice - one member, one vote, regardless of investment.
Financially stable and future-proof
Profits stay local and are reinvested into the pub and village, rather than extracted by private owners.
Socially inclusive and supportive
Community pubs provide a safe, welcoming space for all ages including both civilian and military families, which is uniquely important in Shipton Bellinger.
More than just pubs
They host clubs, groups, workshops, celebrations, charity events, and essential social activities that keep rural communities connected.
Support from Plunkett UK &
local business networks
SCPL is proudly supported by the Plunkett UK, the UK’s leading organisation for community-owned businesses. Plunkett provides expert advice, business planning support, access to specialist consultants, and ongoing guidance throughout the process of buying and operating a community pub.
Alongside national expertise, we also draw on strong local business networks — including local tradespeople, suppliers, professionals, brewery contacts and community organisations giving SCPL a robust foundation and deep local roots.
This combination of proven national support and committed local involvement gives Shipton Bellinger the very best chance of success.
A pub that belongs
to the village
Shipton Bellinger is a unique and close-knit village, with a rich blend of civilian and military families, stunning surroundings, and a shared commitment to community spirit. Reopening The Boot Inn as a community pub ensures that this essential social space remains protected, inclusive, and thriving for generations to come.
With your support, we can bring The Boot Inn back to life — owned by the community, for the community.
Your village, your heritage, your future:
The journey to save The Boot
The Boot Inn is more than a pub - it’s part of Shipton Bellinger’s identity and future. This video highlights the key stages of our campaign, from raising awareness and securing funds to assessing the site, purchasing the pub, and restoring it as a thriving community hub. This is your village, your heritage, your future - join us on this exciting journey!