Re-open the RaceHorse pub in Catworth village

Aim

To buy renovate and re-open a pub for the residents of Catworth, Cambridgeshire and wider communities that has sadly been closed for 7 years

The Racehorse pub is nestled in a beautiful village called Catworth in Cambridgeshire.

The pub has been an important social hub in the village from the mid 19th century when it originally opened as a Public House, but has sadly been closed for the last 7 years. This has no doubt impacted Catworth which is quite a remote village and other nearby villages as they do not have easy access to a pub or social meeting place making the village(s) at times feel a little isolated.

There is a wide demographic of families, the elderly and people of all ages creating a community nearing 500 in Catworth. 

There is a local bowls club and a local football team founded in 1937. 

There are a number of other active community groups including Art, Amateur Dramatics, Cinema and Family History societies.

So why does Catworth and the surrounding villages and their communities deserve the re-opening of the RaceHorse pub?

1.    The need for a warm, comfortable and accessible community hub.

2.    Enable a meeting place for the current communities to continue their important societies that limits or removes the need to drive as the location is very walkable and be a good opportunity to exercise.

3.    Offer a large secure room at the rear of the pub free of charge for:

a.    Dance classes for all ages

b.    Exercise classes

c.    New Mum’s and baby/toddlers meeting place

d.    Pottery & Art classes

e.    Book club etc 

f.    A location for weekly/monthly indoor village market

g.    Birthdays, anniversary celebrations

h.    General parties.

In the main pub areas:

4.    A hub for the bowls club to meet and socialise

a.    A hub for the village football team to celebrate wins or commiserate losses.

b.    Bingo & Games nights

c.    Quiz night

d.    Cinema night

e.    Music and West End evenings

In addition the ability for:

5.    Watching and supporting sport in a comfortable and relaxing environment such as: 

a.    Tennis

b.    Rugby

c.    F1

d.    The World Cup/Football

e.    Golf

f.    Cricket

g.    The Olympics etc.

The pub will need to be self-sufficient, sustainable and financially healthy but it will be essential to make the pub affordable and good value for money for the local communities by keeping costs reasonable for the Catworth village community and surrounding villages.

Bringing the community together:

The pub can be used for occasions such as religious celebrations, Halloween, Bonfire night and other celebratory occasions bringing fun and engagement to families, children and all the local and surrounding communities.

It is important for the community to discuss and agree which other occasions and celebrations could be introduced?

There could be food/wine/beer tasting, BBQ’s in the summer and a free Christmas party for the village children. All is possible!

As the village is relatively close to Huntingdon, the pub could run a free taxi service to and from Huntingdon Racecourse on race days to watch the horse racing and return to the pub for celebrations or discussing why your horse (a dead cert) didn’t win.

The re-opening of the RaceHorse pub will ultimately be to create a warm and inviting environment to socialise whilst ensuring green ethics are adhered to, produce is sourced locally, costs are kept to an acceptable level whilst being financially healthy and sustainable.

It is also proposed to purchase a minibus to pick up and drop off residents who require transport to and from the RaceHorse pub from other surrounding villages. 

It is the absolute aim to employ staff from Catworth or surrounding villages and they will be treated with support and respect and will be involved in ideas, decision making and will be included in a profit sharing scheme.

In addition, a percentage of net profits (TBC) will be managed by representatives of the community via a community group and donated to charities that are defined and agreed by the group.

The money requested is to purchase the RaceHorse pub outright at its current market value of £395,000. Once purchased, a further upto £100,000 will be made available to undertake required repairs, modifications and refurbishments.

The aim is to get The RaceHorse pub purchased, repaired and refurbished and open by the end of 2026.

This project closed unsuccessfully on 3rd April 2026