EXCLUSIVE
WHEN regulars at The Swan Inn in Kettleshulme heard that their landlord was about to close their beloved 600-year-old pub they refused to drown their sorrows.
Instead they formed a 21-strong consortium and reached deep into their own pockets to come up with a £425,000 offer to buy it.
At first landlord Ian Edmonds refused and closed the fifteenth-century coaching inn, which he planned to convert into a home for his family.
But, after a cold shoulder from his former customers and Kettleshulme residents, he has finally agreed to sell it lock, stock and barrel - to the delight of villagers.
Regular Matthew Barnes, 32, said: "Basically we had all seen the Post Office and the shop disappear from the village and when we heard about the pub the community decided to get together to try and save it.
"It is a massive part of village life, really central to it, and has been for centuries. We determined that the owner, who had only been in the village for four years, shouldn't turn this well-respected pub into a house.
"We formed a public limited company, The Swan Kettleshulme Limited, and pooled our resources. At first he refused but now we've exchanged contracts and everyone is delighted."
Contracts were finally exchanged on St Valentine's Day and the group is now working to restore the premises to its former glory.
John Adamson, landlord of The Swan Inn for 20 years up to 2000, still lives in the village.
He has agreed to take over the licence for a short time but the consortium is looking for a permanent landlord to run the pub, which has served villagers since before Christopher Columbus set sail for America.
Matthew said: "John is looking forward to welcoming back all the regulars when The Swan reopens its doors, which should be sometime within the next fortnight."
