Community support for retention of pub

Starting 7th December 2025 WACA conducted an on-line survey to gauge the level of community support for submitting an application to list the Hare and Hounds as an Asset of Community Value (ACV), to gather support in terms of what the village pub meant to them, and to identify the extent to which local groups and organisations have relied on it in recent years.  The survey responses were solicited from our existing mailing list, and posts to various Facebook groups and the Hebden Bridge community website.

The questions in the survey, apart from the yes/no question affirming support or otherwise, were intentionally open-ended. Responses are still coming in, but as of 22nd December, to the proposition: ‘I support WACA’s application to add The Hare and Hounds Inn to Calderdale Council’s list of Assets of Community Value’, 5 responses were ‘No’, and 295 responded ‘Yes’ – 98% in favour.

The questions in the survey, apart from the yes/no question affirming support or otherwise, were intentionally open-ended. Responses are still coming in, but those received by 22nd December have been viewed and summarily analysed.

To the proposition: I support WACA’s application to add The Hare and Hounds Inn to Calderdale Council’s list of Assets of Community Value, 5 responses were ‘No’, and 295 responded ‘Yes’ – 98% in favour.

In response to the prompt to add ‘Personal recollections of the value to the community of the Hare and Hounds’, the tenor of these responses is summarised under these headings:-

  • At the heart of the community.
  • A focal point for the village and for Hebden Bridge and for other hilltop communities.
  • A meeting place for a wide variety of community groups .
  • A resource for local people in emergencies like power cuts and the COVID outbreaks.
  • The only pub in the Old Town/Chiserley village, with the neighbouring Mount Skip Inn long gone.
  • A pub that represents the character of the area.
  • A welcoming and friendly meeting space for friends and family.
  • A warm place to spend winter evenings in congenial company.
  • A traditional pub serving good beer and traditional pub food and providing accommodation.
  • A place where functions like weddings, christenings and wakes were frequently held.
  • A place for entertainment, including popular regular pub quizzes and, less regularly, music, and an annual bonfire and fireworks display.
  • A beautiful location with extensive views to be enjoyed outside.
  • A significant destination for outdoor activity – walking, fell running, cycling, camping..
  • A pub with a long history and used by respondents over many decades.
  • A place where many people from the village were employed over the years.
  • More than just a pub.
  • A huge sense of loss since the closure and since the change of landlord who altered the character of the pub to its detriment.

In response to the prompt ‘details of community groups meeting there, charity events, live music or quiz nights, or events that support specific aspects of our community’ the following was offered:

  • Venue and co-ordination centre for outdoor activities such as race HQ for many local fell races, especially Calder Valley Fell Runners, Todmorden Harriers and walking groups and cyclists such as Riding for the Disabled and Calderdale Heritage Walks.
  • Charity fund raising events held there include for flood relief following the Boxing Day floods in 2015. Friends of Old Town School (FOOTS), Mountain Rescue and White Knights Blood Bikes.
  • Meeting venue for local cultural and interest groups such as Picture This! Photography Group, Wadsworth Gardening Group, Philosophical Society, Hebden Bridge Local History Society, Wadsworth History group, School PTA group and Friends of Old Town School (FOOTS), NCT and Baby groups, u3a Todmorden Lunch Club, Wadsworth Bee Keepers, Calderdale Countryside Rangers, football, cricket and darts teams, Book groups, lesbian monthly social on first Fridays, Hebden Bridge Hill Millies (Hebden’s only Morris side).
  • It has been a centre for outreach to the community including response to flooding and other emergencies, Pennine Cropshare (distribution centre for their organic veg scheme) and engaging with Calder Community Cares during Covid on the “Eat Together, Stay Home” scheme preparing 80 roast dinners to be delivered by volunteers to those self-isolating.
  • Indoor/outdoor events held there such as quiz nights, Hog roasts, Bonfire Night firework displays, Pace Egg play, Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd Walkers are Welcome group, Thursday walkers group and a New Years Day walk for the last 40 years.
  • Events supporting the arts include live music events such as Lee Southall, The Electric Brain particularly being well remembered and local Artists’ and Photographers’ exhibitions.
  • Featured on national media: Channel 4’s “Perfect Pub Walks” in 2025 (Alexander Armstrong and James May).

As a result, WACA submitted an Asset of Community Value nomination late December 2025 which included the above details.  The nomination was initially delayed whilst waiting for Land Registry documentation to be updated with details of the new owner, but this update has still not taken place at time of writing, and WACA couldn’t risk further delay.