The Hope, a community pub in Carshalton, has been named the Greater London Regional Pub of the Year for 2023.

Presented with the Sutton borough Pub of the Year certificate on June 29, Rodger Molyneux, a member of the management team at The Hope, accepted the prestigious award.

The venue then went on to run in Greater London Regional Pub of the Year for Greater London and was announced as the winner recently.

This is the sixth time in the past twelve years that The Hope has been named the Greater London Regional Pub of the Year by CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale).

According to the pub’s website, The Hope faced the threat of closure in 2010 when plans to turn it into a restaurant emerged.

However, a group of loyal customers quickly negotiated with the pub's owners, Punch Taverns, and were given the opportunity to buy the lease and operate the establishment.

To pursue this possibility, the customers formed a company named 48 West Limited which became the tenant of The Hope through a 20-year 'free of all tie' lease.

In addition to acquiring the lease, the group also purchased the fixtures, fittings, and stock from the holding company.

With the determination to secure the pub's future, substantial investments have been made in the building, stock, and staff.

These efforts have resulted in the pub gaining a significant following, as well as winning numerous awards throughout the years.

In 2015, the group's hard work paid off when they achieved their objective of purchasing the freehold of The Hope.

At present, the pub is owned entirely by the shareholders of 48 West Ltd.

In order to ensure that the pub remains a community asset, the company has a restriction of 24 per cent on the level of shares an individual can hold.

Currently, there are 46 shareholders, all of whom are dedicated to securing a prosperous future for this beloved establishment.

With its rich history, devoted community ownership, and strong commitment to excellence, The Hope continues to prove itself as a worthy recipient of such an award.