Campaigners who fought to save their pub have been announced as runners-up in a prestigious competition run by CAMRA.

The 2017 Pub Saving Award competition is run by the Campaign for Real Ale to reward communities that save popular local pubs from closure.

The Craufurd Arms Community Group saved the pub in Gringer Hill, Maidenhead by buying it for £325,000 after securing the support of the local community through residents' surveys, public meetings and stories in the press. They approached organisations like CAMRA, the Plunkett Foundation and Our Community Enterprise.

Help then came in unlikely sources, including a generous contribution from Sir Robert and Lady Georgina Craufurd (after whose family the pub is named) and a letter of support from the Prime Minister.

An incredible response to a share offer saw 229 local residents invest in the pub, allowing it to re-open in June as the 50th community-owned pub in the country. After just two months of operations the gross wet sales reached its 2020 forecast and events including charity days and real ale and cider festivals have already taken place.

Mark Newcombe, chairman of the Craufurd Arms Society Limited, says: “With the help of our members and supporters the Craufurd Arms – our pint-sized community pub – has been able to thrive and prosper as a vital social and community hub and a profitable business.

“The fact that we managed to raise the funds in such a short period of time is a testament to the incredible efforts of the committee, investors, supporters and CAMRA members.”

The Craufurd Arms Community Group was pipped for the national title in the Pub Saving Award competition by campaigners in Kent, who have saved a 200-year-old pub from closure.

Paul Ainsworth who organises CAMRA’s Pub Saving Award says: “The Craufurd Arms Community Group should be recognised for the fantastic work that they have done to save their local pub from closure. Using every tool available to them and tapping into any and all channels – including the Prime Minister – this group is a great inspiration to communities across the country.”