News Update: 25 October 2025 – Project Gathers Momentum!

Following a packed initial meeting on 15th September 2025, The Railway Inn Norton Bridge Steering Group is thrilled to report a fantastic surge of local support. The meeting at St Luke’s saw 31 attendees , with a unanimous agreement to move forward with the plan to buy The Railway Inn and run it for the community.

We were delighted that so many people indicated they have skills, experience, or time they are willing to give to the project.

Our Vision for The Railway Inn

We are working to create more than just a traditional pub; our vision is for a community hub. This new hub will be:

• Welcoming to all.
• Supportive of local businesses and the local community.
• A place that makes the most of our area’s unique railway history and the local link with Izaak Walton.

Steering Group Members

A dedicated steering group has been formed to drive the project forward. The members are:

• Sue Wardle (Chair)
• Andy Burdon
• Sylvia Burdon
• Ian Willshaw
• Ian Bradford
• David Wills
• Fran Drinkall
• Marg Ainsworth-Hickman
• Rachael Drinkall
• Holly Douglas
• Kris Douglas

The group has already met three times (23rd September, 30th September, and 21st October) to establish our next steps.

Progress and Key Steps

We have already made significant progress:

• Contact with Vendor: We have made contact with the vendor, via Louis Taylor estate agent, to formally inform him that we are working towards a community purchase.
• MP Support: We have contacted Leigh Ingham, MP for Stafford, Eccleshall, and the villages, to outline what we are doing and seek her support.
• Expert Support: We have registered with Plunkett UK , a national charity that supports people in rural areas to set up and run businesses in community ownership. They are willing to support us through this process.
• Promotional Leaflet: A leaflet has been produced and is available to download from the website.

HAVE YOUR SAY – Community Consultation is Live!

Community support is essential for this project to succeed. We have developed a community questionnaire, and your feedback is vital. The findings will directly inform the project’s future direction and demonstrate the strength of our community support.

How to complete the questionnaire:

• Online: The questionnaire is available on our website: https://railwayinn.org/
• Paper Copies: Paper copies have been distributed to households. You can return your completed paper copy to one of the two special posting boxes in the village:
  • One box is located by the pub.
  • The other is by the village notice board at the entrance to St Luke’s Close.

Please fill in and return your questionnaire as soon as possible.

What’s Next?

October is focused on this crucial community consultation. Following this, we will move into the fundraising phase in November and December.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us so far. Together, we can make this project a reality!