The 30th November 2023 is a date that will go down in local history as the day the community received the keys to The Drewe Arms, Drewsteignton.

The sale was completed last week when we were given the keys to the pub at 3pm on Thursday. It was snowing for the first time this winter, which only made the pub look more picturesque and more welcome.

We were keen to get across the threshold, so every member of the steering group who could make it turned up with bubbles, beer and nibbles and even firewood to light the fire - within minutes the pub was brought back to life.

The front bar was warm and cosy and ringing with voices toasting being back in our pub. It was like nothing had changed. The place was exactly as we remembered it, like it had never closed.

As Toby told the ITV Westcountry News reporter who arrived to cover the celebrations, ‘We’re so grateful to the five hundred plus people who supported this campaign, which has culminated in getting the keys to this pub today, for the community! Now the work truly begins to get The Drewe back up and running as a vibrant community hub by the Spring. It’s all incredibly exciting, the potential for the pub is immense and we can‘t wait to welcome every person who helped make it happen through the door.”

Given the extent of repair and refurbishment we won't have the pub fully open and trading until March of next year, but we will be holding pop-up pub nights just as they did in the square during the campaign; only this time of course inside the pub.

Pop-up Pub on Friday 8th December

To celebrate completing the purchase we're hosting our next pop up pub' on FRIDAY 8TH DECEMBER. The event runs from 6.30-8.30. We'll largely be in the Long Room, although everyone will have a chance to look round the rest of the pub.

As usual, drinks will be free, but there will be an opportunity to make a donation.

Come along to meet our new landlord Simon Saunders and hear all about our plans to get the Drewe up and running again!