The Pack Horse

The Pack Horse, also known as the Packhorse Inn, is a historic pub and inn in the village of Southstoke in Somerset, near Bath, England. The business operates from a two-storey stone building that was largely rebuilt in 1674, a date recorded on a stone above the front door. Although the building began as a farmhouse, it later became associated with village hospitality and was converted into a pub during the nineteenth century. A separate building in the village had previously carried the Packhorse name, indicating that the inn’s identity has longstanding local associations. The property is a Grade II listed building. Its traditional architecture includes freestone quoins, a tiled roof, gabled dormers containing attic space, and a cellar. Internally, the pub includes a taproom and a lounge bar, each designed for relatively modest capacities, together with a garden. These features reflect the premises’ historic village-pub character rather than a large-scale hospitality format. The inn was owned by George’s Brewery in the late 1930s, when Mrs Emily Rose was recorded as the licensee. The pub eventually closed in 2012, after which the building was marketed with proposals for conversion into a private residence. The possible loss of the pub prompted a locally organised preservation campaign. Residents sought designation as an Asset of Community Value through Bath and North East Somerset Council. That status, enabled by the Localism Act 2011, provided a degree of protection against redevelopment and gave the community an opportunity to respond to a potential sale. The campaign developed a community-financing model to secure the building and fund its restoration. More than 200 investors participated in a share issue that had raised £601,000 at one stage and reached £685,000 by September 2016. This enabled the campaign to purchase the property and plan its refurbishment. The pub reopened in March 2018, restoring a hospitality use that had been absent since its closure in 2012. The Pack Horse therefore represents both a historic pub brand and a community-led regeneration project. Its significance derives from the combination of listed architecture, long local use, and collective action to preserve the building as a village pub. Publicly available reference material does not establish a separate corporate parent, a named founder, a national operating network, or a broader portfolio of locations. The brand is best understood as a single-site hospitality establishment serving Southstoke and the surrounding area.

The Pack Horse occupies a historic stone building in Southstoke, Somerset. The structure’s original construction date is not established, but it was substantially rebuilt in 1674, a date preserved in stonework above the entrance. It began life as a farmhouse and was converted into a pub during the nineteenth century. Another building in the village had earlier been known as the Packhorse Inn, suggesting that the name predates the current premises’ use as a public house. By 1939, the establishment was operated by licensee Mrs Emily Rose and was owned by George’s Brewery. The building developed and retained the physical characteristics of a traditional Somerset village inn: two storeys, freestone quoins, a tiled roof, gabled dormers with attic space, and a cellar. Its interior included a taproom seating approximately 20 people, a lounge bar with capacity for a further 20, and a garden. The pub closed in 2012. Following the closure, the property was offered with plans for residential conversion, creating a risk that the village would lose a longstanding community facility. Local residents formed a campaign to preserve the pub and sought formal recognition of its community value. Bath and North East Somerset Council designated the property as an Asset of Community Value. This designation did not itself guarantee continued pub use, but it offered a measure of protection and enabled the community to engage more formally with the property’s future under the framework of the Localism Act 2011. The campaign then used community ownership and investment to pursue the building’s purchase and restoration. A share issue attracted more than 200 investors and raised £601,000 during an earlier phase. By September 2016, fundraising had reached £685,000, sufficient to acquire the building and support refurbishment planning. The Pack Horse reopened in March 2018, returning the premises to use as a pub. Its modern identity is consequently shaped by both heritage and community ownership or support. The building’s listed status and seventeenth-century reconstruction provide its architectural foundation, while the campaign demonstrated the role of local investment in preserving rural hospitality venues. Available reference material identifies the Southstoke establishment but does not document a national chain, corporate group, named executive team, or multiple branded product lines.

• 2018

  Reopening

  [1]Packhorse Innen.wikipedia.org

  The pub reopened in March after community-backed acquisition and refurbishment planning.

• 2016

  Community fundraising reaches acquisition level

  [1]Packhorse Innen.wikipedia.org

  The community campaign’s share issue had raised £685,000 by September, enough to buy the building and plan its refurbishment.

• 2012

  Pub closes

  [1]Packhorse Innen.wikipedia.org

  The Pack Horse closed as a pub, and plans were submitted for residential conversion.

• 1939

  Recorded ownership and licensee

  [1]Packhorse Innen.wikipedia.org

  The inn was recorded as being owned by George’s Brewery, with Mrs Emily Rose serving as licensee.

• 1674

  Building largely rebuilt

  [1]Packhorse Innen.wikipedia.org

  The building was largely rebuilt, with the year recorded on a stone above the front door.

• Conversion into a pub

  [1]Packhorse Innen.wikipedia.org

  The former farmhouse was converted into a pub during the nineteenth century.

A historic village pub preserved and operated as a community-supported hospitality venue, combining traditional architecture with local food, drink, and social use.

• Pub and hospitality venue

  The Pack Horse pub

  The core offering is the historic Southstoke public house, providing a village setting for food, drink, conversation, and community activity. The premises include a traditional taproom, a lounge bar, and a garden. Public reference material characterises it as a single-site pub rather than a branded product manufacturer or multi-location chain.

• Campaign to Save the Packhorse

  Southstoke · Somerset · United Kingdom

  Local residents organised a campaign after the pub closed and residential conversion was proposed. The campaign sought Asset of Community Value designation, raised community investment through a share issue, acquired the building, and supported its restoration as a pub.

  Outcome. The property received Asset of Community Value designation, the campaign raised enough money to purchase it, and the pub reopened in March 2018.

  Source

• 2012

  Community preservation strategy after closureStrategy

  Background

  The pub’s closure and proposed residential conversion created a risk that Southstoke would lose a historic community venue.

  Action taken

  Residents pursued Asset of Community Value designation and organised a community share issue to acquire and refurbish the building.

  Aftermath

  The campaign raised sufficient funds to buy the property, and the pub reopened in March 2018.

  Community share-issue fundraising. £601,000 → £685,000 (By September 2016)

  Source

• 2018

  The Pack Horse reopens after community-led refurbishment[1]Packhorse Innen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The pub reopened in March 2018 following the community campaign’s acquisition and renovation efforts.

• 2016

  Community share issue raises funds to acquire and restore the pub[1]Packhorse Innen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign · Other

  More than 200 investors supported a community share issue. Funds had reached £685,000 by September 2016, enabling the campaign to buy the building and plan refurbishment.

• 2012

  The Pack Horse closes after operating as a village pub[1]Packhorse Innen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The Southstoke pub closed, and proposals were submitted to convert the listed building into a private residence.

• Local campaign secures Asset of Community Value designation[1]Packhorse Innen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign · Regulation

  Residents campaigning to preserve the pub successfully obtained designation from Bath and North East Somerset Council, providing protection relevant to potential redevelopment under the Localism Act 2011.

1. 1Packhorse Innen.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Pack Horse official websitepackhorsebath.co.uk