Take a look as 'completely transformed' pub gets set to reopen
It is unrecognisable
A village pub that has remained empty for four years is set to reopen.
The Royal Oak in Collingham has been dormant since closing its doors in 2015 after the then landlords decided to retire.
With no apparent person to take over it had looked like the pub would be turned into housing after being sold to Lincolnshire Co-operative Society’s property division.
However, a group of villagers refused to let it die and launched a campaign to try and raise the funds to get the pub back in the hands of the community.
Excitement grows as much-loved pub near the A46 moves closer to reopening
A total of 200 people backed the campaign selling shares and following the help of a grant from the Plunkett Foundation, the group has successfully negotiated a 25-year lease with an option to permanently buy the pub within the first five years.
And all the hard work will be rewarded when the pub reopens for the first time on Friday, August 9.
Our photographer, Anna Draper was allowed to pop down and take an exclusive sneak peak.
The pub is geared up for the reopening
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After four years, The Royal Oak is set to reopen
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It looks completely different
(Image: Anna Draper/ Lincolnshire Echo)3 of 16![After months of hard work , The Royal Oak in Collingham has reopened as a community pub.]()
The team of chefs are raring to go
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