Our story

The Half Moon Inn, our 200+ years old pub in Sharow, has been closed for five years, to the disappointment of many locals who see it as a much missed, highly valued community asset. Many have been voicing their desire and are actively showing support to get it reopened. To this end, we formed a working group of volunteers, with significant business experience and the energy to see this through. We have been in discussion with the owner of the property and we are working with advisors at Sharow Parish Council, CAMRA, Plunkett Foundation (community-business charity) and Pub is the Hub. V&A Homes local property developer has also stepped forward to support this project. 

To secure a successful future for the Half Moon Inn as a community pub, and subject to coming to acceptable arrangements with the owner, we have been listening to the community, as potential supporters and customers. In March 2022, we ran a community survey and from 241 responses, an impressive 92.5% of respondents confirmed they would use it as a pub and 96.7% would use it, if it included a village shop. From those responded, 99 individuals expressed interest to support the group’s efforts in some capacity. To find out how you can share your ideas or how to get in touch with us, read our updates page to find out how you can share your ideas and/or get in touch with us).

Our vision

We want to see The Half Moon Inn open and thrive again as a community asset that goes beyond being a pub. One that is also a shop, a café, a community space, open through the day and into the evenings for people to socialise, work, learn or dine; as a local hub for residents from Sharow, Copt Hewick, Hutton Conyers, Bridge-Hewick, Marton-le-Moor, Littlethorpe, as well as visitors from the Ripon area and beyond.

We want The Half Moon Inn to serve a decent pint, homemade food and sandwiches, cakes, and great coffee. To be a small village shop for milk, bread, newspapers, and even stamps. And offer special food nights by handpicked local suppliers and chefs that could include fish & chips, pizza and/or Indian cuisine. 

Our aim is to revive The Half Moon Inn, make it a friendly, well designed and accessible space that can be used for a variety of events, run professionally as a business yet owned and led by the community, so we can ensure longevity and prosperity, while building community capital. 

Our plan

Research shows local pubs owned by the community are thriving (plunkett.co.uk). A fantastic example is the Green Dragon Community Pub at Exelby. Their success story shows how community pubs can bring great benefits to the local communities they serve as locality hubs. Our vision is for the Half Moon Inn to become a thriving community asset again.

We, the Half Moon Pub Group – a working group of volunteers, propose a business model known as a ‘Community Benefit Society’ with a long-term, free-of-ties lease (or purchase) model. This means we’ll conduct business for the benefit of our community and profits will be returned to the community. We propose a ‘community share offer’ to raise funds to lease (or buy) and run the pub. We would then advertise for tenant managers. And we know it’s possible. We’ve seen this done successfully in the past, locally, by the Exelby Green Dragon and White Horse Church Fenton, both community-owned pubs and nationally by many other communities: see More Than A Pub national success stories.