Parish councillor David Beeston has purchased the Labour in Vain pub in Yarnfield, with refurbishment work now underway ahead of plans to find a tenant to run the venue. The sale completed in August and is not connected with Yarnfield and Cold Meece Parish Council.
Mr Beeston, who was involved in a campaign three years ago to secure the pub for the community, has announced the new ownership on social media. The pub was listed as an Asset of Community Value by Stafford Borough Council following that earlier community effort.
Refurbishment and setbacks
Work is taking place inside the building ahead of reopening, though efforts suffered a setback last week following a break-in. Mr Beeston said security measures have been improved and that there is nothing of value left inside.
"Support in the village has been really good though. I have had people offering to help with cleaning and preparing it, and a lot of help from friends and villagers," he said. "There have been a lot of positive comments online. We will open it as soon as we possibly can, but we have a lot to do before we can."
Plans for the venue
The ambition is to find a tenant willing to run the pub to a specific vision. Mr Beeston outlined plans to open around 9am offering breakfast and coffee, running through to bar service in the afternoon and evening. The venue will operate as a café and bar but remain a pub.
"We're not publicans, but we didn't want to see the pub disappear out of the village. Hopefully we will get it back thriving and open to everybody," Mr Beeston said.
Background
The Labour in Vain has been part of Yarnfield for more than 170 years. Hundreds of people signed a petition to save the pub in 2023 when Stafford Borough Council granted planning permission in July 2023 for three homes to be built on the pub's car park. That planning permission has now lapsed. The proposals had prompted concerns that loss of parking could threaten the future of the venue, which is Yarnfield's only pub.
