Two Suffolk pubs are to be bought and restored using funds from a £25m government scheme to save cherished places in England. 

The Doberman Inn, in Framsden near Stowmarket, and The White Horse Thelnetham, near Diss, are both set to be regenerated using the money from the  Community Ownership Fund.

The business which created the campaign Save The White Horse Thelnetham, Ikigai Farm Ltd, will receive £298,800 to help buy, renovate and restore The White Horse pub so it can continue to serve as both a pub and community hub, supporting a wide range of local social activities and clubs.

East Anglian Daily Times: The White Horse ThelnethamThe White Horse Thelnetham (Image: Google street view)


The Framsden Social Enterprises Community Benefit Society Ltd will receive £276,300 for The Dobermann Inn which will be used to buy the pub so it can continue to be a vibrant and engaging asset that provides social, leisure and commercial activities to a rural area of Suffolk.


The owner of the closed 18th-century Dobermann Inn, Julia Coulthard, told the East Anglian Daily Times last year her life is being ‘made a misery’ by planning regulations which are preventing her from selling the property as a house. 

East Anglian Daily Times: Julia Coulthard Julia Coulthard (Image: Newsquest)


The result, she said, had been that the ‘once beautiful’ Dobermann is ‘rapidly falling into decline.’

The pubs are among 70 treasured buildings that will be saved across the UK in this Government levelling up funding.

Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove said: “Investing in communities improves lives – whether that’s rebuilding a community centre, rescuing historic pubs and theatres or upgrading sports facilities used by families every day.
 
“These are unique and cherished places, valued by local people of all ages, and we know how much they mean to communities.
 
“The Community Ownership Fund is about restoring pride in the places people call home and I’m delighted to be funding these projects.”