A PUB on the border with Powys which a group wants to turn into a community hub has just received a major funding boost.

The Government has announced the project to turn The Oxford Arms in Kington into a vibrant community space has been awarded a £300,00 grant.

It is among eight community projects across England and Northern Ireland set to be boosted by more than £2.2 million of government levelling up funding.

The group Open Arms Kington wants to bring The Oxford Arms pub, a Grade II building in Duke Street, back to the local community.

It wants to transform the much-loved venue into an inclusive pub which help will boost the economy of the region.

The venue will create community space which can be used for a range of activities and events while creating new employment and training opportunities for local people.

The investment will also allow the pub to work with local businesses in the area to reduce food waste and encourage local initiatives such as a community car share scheme.

The move is part of the government’s drive to level-up opportunity and prosperity across the country and create more places that people are proud to call home.

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A dedicated space for young people, regular music, fast internet and workshop and meeting spaces have been at the forefront of the group's mind when developing the plans for the £500,000 project.

Consultation has been ongoing.

This is all part of the government’s drive to level up local communities across the country, create more jobs for local people, boost local businesses and build up local economies as a result.

Minister for Levelling Up, the Union and Constitution, Neil O’Brien MP, said: “Empowering local people to take ownership of much-loved assets is central to levelling up communities across Herefordshire and the wider region. 

“The Oxford Arms Pub is supporting the growth of the community through job creation and training for local people.

“Through projects like this, we are helping places across the country become more desirable areas to live.”

The first round of successful projects were announced at the Spending Review in autumn last year.

Applications to bid for round two of funding through the Community Ownership Fund will open in June.

The Government says the funding will support a range of vibrant and exciting projects help communities across England and Northern Ireland to take ownership of local assets.