The Royal Oak, Hail Weston
| Royal Oak Pub | |
|---|---|
 Royal Oak Pub, Hail Weston, 2002 | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
The Royal Oak is a 17th-century public house in the village of Hail Weston, Cambridgeshire. It is the last remaining pub in the village, and has a long history as a community centre.[1]
A number of local traditions revolve around the Royal Oak, including: the annual go-kart races where the street is closed, and homemade push-karts are raced past the pub;[2] an Easter Egg hunt in the pub gardens; the local Heartsease dances that takes place in and outside the pub;[3] the 'onion bowl' where onions smoothed and prepped in the Royal Oak's kitchens were rolled in a variation on ten-pin bowling; the 'egg dump' - a more dramatic version of conkers using eggs; a charity bike ride raising funds for Action Medical Research; a fun run; among other celebrations on national holidays and occasions.[4]
The Royal Oak is a grade II listed building with a traditional thatched roof.[5] Inside, the exposed beams and posts have been preserved, as well as the fireplace.
In November 2011, the Royal Oak was sold by the Charles Wells Pub Company.[6] On January 1, 2012 it was closed as a pub, and in March 2012 it was put up for auction - but failed to sell. It was auctioned again in May 2012, and again failed to sell.[7]
At the same time, a Hail Weston community group formed (the Hail Weston Community Pub Society)[8] to attempt to buy the Royal Oak and run it as a community pub.
In January 2013 it was registered as an Asset of Community Value under the Localism Act 2011,[9] and in November 2013 the Hail Weston Community Pub Society made a formal offer for the Royal Oak.[10]
To date, the Royal Oak remains on the market but has still yet to sell.[11]
References
- ^ http://www.hailweston.org.uk/html/time_trails.html
- ^ St Neots Town Crier: http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Huntingdon-St-Ives-St-Neots/VIDEO-Go-karts-make-a-come-back-in-annual-village-tradition-in-Hail-Weston-20140108140000.htm
- ^ http://www.heartseasedance.co.uk/about/
- ^ BuzzFeed. How A Scrappy Community Bought Its Own Pub... Well, Almost: http://www.buzzfeed.com/hailwestoncommunitypub/how-a-scrappy-community-bought-its-own-pub-well-m2p0
- ^ http://www.hailweston.org.uk/html/time_trails.html
- ^ Cheffins Estate Agents: http://www.cheffins.co.uk/lot/sold-prior---royal-oak-high-street-hail-weston-cambs-pe19-5jw-535944-propertyauctions-0
- ^ Network Auctions: http://auctioneertemplates.eigroup.co.uk/Results.aspx?a=389&c=ela&au=16928
- ^ Hail Weston Community Pub Society: http://www.savetheroyaloak.org.uk/
- ^ http://www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/HDCCMS/Documents/Policy%20documents/List-of-Assets-of-Community-Value.pdf
- ^ http://www.savetheroyaloak.org.uk/
- ^ Hunts Post: Villagers bid to buy Huntingdonshire pub rejected: http://www.huntspost.co.uk/news/latest-news/villagers_bid_to_buy_huntingdonshire_pub_rejected_1_3127029