In pictures: The Lion at Ickleton roars again following community campaign
They’ve done it! Glasses were raised in Ickleton last Sunday (29 June) to toast the reopening of the village pub after a year-long community-led fundraising and renovation campaign.
Villagers joined forces when the Ickleton Lion was put up for sale by Greene King in 2024.
Hoping to save what is the last remaining pub in the village, they formed a community benefit society and raised more than £440,000 through a share launch plus additional grants and donations to successfully secure the purchase.
As readers of the Ickleton Lionhearted column in the Cambridge Independent have been reading, the past six months have seen more than 120 volunteers roll up their sleeves to completely refurbish the pub and garden after it had sat empty for almost two years.
On Sunday, owners, volunteers and local villagers celebrated at the pub’s opening celebration, attended by South Cambridgeshire MP Pippa Heylings, who has supported the campaign from its inception.
The pub opened to the public on Wednesday (2 July) in a gradual reopening until the bar and kitchen are fully staffed.
As well as speeches from the MP and a poem from resident Hugh Molloy, incoming committee chair Eric Burrows invited 93-year old Betty Willmott to pop the cork on the fizz used to toast to the pub.
Betty is the oldest resident of Ickleton and has lived on the same street as the Lion all her life.
Roland Perry pulled the first pint, having bid for the honour in a silent auction to raise funds for the campaign.
Rachel Radford, who chaired the Ickleton Lionhearted committee, said: “From day one, we wanted to save the Lion as a friendly space at the centre of our community where everyone felt welcome.
“We thought the fundraising efforts to buy the pub were a huge feat but the refurbishment has highlighted the generosity and community spirit we have here in Ickleton.
“Volunteers have been in almost every day over the last few weeks sanding, cleaning, painting, digging, planting and more, others baked delicious cakes to sustain the workers.
“So many answered our calls for help to make the Lion roar again and it’s wonderful to see everyone now able to relax and enjoy a drink in the sunshine.”
The pub has also welcomed new managers, husband and wife Chris and Vikki Bruno.
Chris, who has moved to the Lion from being head chef at pubs in Cambridge, was busy manning the barbecue as proud owners and villagers attended the opening to share in the celebrations.
He said: “We’ve always dreamed of managing our own place and the stars have aligned for us here at the Lion.
“It’s hard to believe how much people power has gone into turning this cold and run-down building into this warm and welcoming pub and garden.
“The community has already been making us feel at home and we can’t wait to get to know everyone.
“If today is anything to go by, it’s going to be a busy few months behind the bar so bear with us!”
Ms Heylings said: “The reopening of The Lion, made possible by the incredible efforts and generosity of the residents of Ickleton, is a true testament to the power of community spirit.
“This community pub will be so much more than just a place to grab a pint; it’s already the beating heart of the village, providing a vital space for connection, conversation and camaraderie.
“This achievement by the residents of Ickleton not only saves a beloved local institution but also strengthens the fabric of the community. I’m so happy to be joining the community to hear The Lion roar again!”
Cllr Peter McDonald, who also attended the event, added: “Pubs like The Lion are the heart of the village. It’s just fantastic to see it opening again.
“Makes me proud to be their District & County councillor.”
Until its closure in 2023, the Ickleton Lion had been serving the local communities of Ickleton, Hinxton, Duxford, Great Chesterford and beyond since 1728.
In the Second World War, it was a popular haunt for US airmen, and in recent years an intellectual retreat for scientists at the nearby Wellcome Genome Campus and thirst-quencher for cyclists along Route 11.
The pub, renamed ‘The Lion at Ickleton’, is now owned by 415 shareholders – many of whom gathered in the sun on Sunday.
The purchase and refurbishment was also powered by more than £100,000 of grants, including £52,400 from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority in partnership with Plunkett UK, along with a £5,000 loan from Ickleton Parish Council to support the purchase.
The Lion at Ickleton is now open for drinks Wednesday to Friday 12noon-3pm and 5pm-10.30pm, Saturdays 12 noon-10.30pm and Sundays 12 noon to early evening.
The Lion will be serving classic and nostalgic pub food reimagined.
Congratulations to the team!
Tables for food can be booked at thelionatickleton.com.
