A community which saved its village pub has been presented with a highly commended CAMRA award.

CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) Pub Saving Award recognises people that have come together to save a pub that would have otherwise been demolished or converted to another use.

Stiff competition meant The Travellers Rest in Skeeby, near Richmond, didn’t take first place, but the highly commended award acknowledged all the hard work and investment of the community, which saved the Travellers Rest from being converted into a house after it was bought by a property developer in 2010.

Darlington and Stockton Times: Traveller's Rest, Skeeby

The community-owned pub reopened in May last year after being closed for almost 15 years and is now a thriving hub for the village, serving home cooked food, theme nights, local ales, and a large beer garden with quoits pitches. The pub is also a gallery space for local artists and continues to support small business and raise funds for local causes through a variety of activities.

Secretary of Skeeby Community Pub Society, Kay Richardson said: “When you’re sat in front of the log burner with a glass of wine it’s easy to forget the past decade of campaigning, fighting planning applications, gathering investment, and the mammoth task of refurbishing the building which had been entirely gutted by the previous owner.

“We would not be here if it wasn’t for a small group of passionate locals who established the Skeeby Community Pub Society back in 2010, and we’re incredibly proud to have been recognised.”