An MP in Buckinghamshire is talking with community groups in a bid to ensure the future of a well-known village pub.

Mid Buckinghamshire MP Greg Smith revealed he is speaking with residents about how they could save the Old Fisherman pub in Shabbington.

According to the long-term Buckinghamshire politician, Greene King is looking to sell the bar and he was discussing the potential of the pub being saved via a community ownership campaign.

Mr Smith referenced other village pubs that were saved after extensive community campaigns and fundraisers in the Aylesbury area. He mentioned the Hundred of Ashendon pub which was saved after hundreds of thousands was raised by villagers and the wider Aylesbury Vale community.

placeholder image — Greg Smith spoke with residents

Mr Smith also highlighted that The Crown in Cuddington reopened under a community ownership group. He said: “With Greene King selling, it is so important to find a way to secure the future of the site as a pub, with potential community ownership.”

He highlighted the work of Angie Kirkwood who is working on potential solutions which would protect the pub from closure.

"Rural village pubs are the absolute hubs of communities and when they are gone they are too often gone for good,” Mr Smith added. “I will work with Shabbington residents to support them in every way that I can.”

The Old Fisherman is the only pub within the village of Shabbington which has a population of nearly 600 people - according to latest census data. As well as pints the bar offers traditional pub meals and prides itself on its ‘cosy’ atmosphere.

Greene King confirmed to The Bucks Herald it was open to the possibility of selling the Shabbington pub. The ownership group also highlighted that the bar remains open as usual while potential offers will be entertained.

Previously, it was revealed that the major pub ownership company was looking to sell around 300 of the bars under its umbrella. Industry experts linked the potential sales to the challenging hospitality market across the UK and changing customer habits.

Greene King says the potential sales are sought as the company is adopting anew pub estate strategy to ensure the company enjoys a profitable future.

Greene King has privately selected bars it believes would be better served under a different model. The company is looking to convert roughly half of the 300 available pubs into leasehold agreements. It has also been reported that up-for-sale Greene King pubs could be franchised by new licensees.

Under the company’s remodeling the other 150 pubs are expected to be sold outright, in what sources have described as the ‘medium term’.

At this stage it appears that the beer giant has not decided which category the Old Fisherman falls into. A spokesperson for Greene King told The Bucks Herald: “As part of our pub estate strategy to set us up to deliver sustainable and profitable growth for the future, we are now exploring all options available to us regarding the future of the Old Fisherman, including a potential sale. The pub remains open and trading as usual.”