It is 173 years since the first record of a pub in Mawbray and, to celebrate the fact there’s been a pub in the village for more than one and a half centuries, the Lowther Arms Community Project is giving away a special prize this week to the 173rd Shareholder!
The prize reflects the richness and diversity of the Mawbray landscape and is a wonderful selection of local, hand-made cheese from the Mawbray Cheese Company and a signed copy of the book ‘Home Grown in Cumbria’ by Mawbray-based author, Annette Gibbons.
“It’s very sad the pub has been closed for nearly two years”, says Christopher Atkinson, Chair of the Lowther Arms Community Project, “but we’re delighted so many people have bought shares to save the Lowther Arms for the community. We hope the pub will re-open again soon and continue its tradition of serving great food sourced from local ingredients.”
“It’s also Apple Day this month, which celebrates the landscape, its ecology and culture, and the provenance and traceability of food – so the prize is a tribute to our local area and reflects our optimism for the future. What better way to enjoy the countryside than a walk along the beach followed by a cheese ploughman’s and a glass of cider in the pub!”
The first record of the pub was in the 1847 Cumberland Directory and the pub has traded more or less continuously ever since. The campaign to save the pub currently has 171 shareholders and has just over £69,000 to raise to reach its £250,000 target.
“We’re getting closer to our goal”, says Christopher Atkinson, “and all you have to do is buy shares to be automatically entered into the competition. The 173rd person buying shares will be the lucky prize winner.”
The area has much to offer any visitor. The pub sits in a conservation area surrounded by beautiful scenery that’s great for walking, getting away from it all and enjoying the stunning vistas and abundance of wildlife. It’s an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), part of the Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site Buffer Zone and the coastal nature reserve is part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The award-winning Mawbray Cheese Company has generously helped sponsor the prize with a selection of artisan cheeses, including Tallentire (Goats cheese), Salta (Feta), and Beckfoot Creamy – all named after local places.
“We’re based in Mawbray and all our cheeses are handmade from locally sourced cows’ and goats’ milk from within Cumbria”, explains Jan McGreavy from the Mawbray Cheese Company. “We also use vegetable rennet which means it’s suitable for vegetarians. From the fresh, salty, creaminess of Salta (Feta); to the light, soft and crumbly Tallentire and rich and creamy Goodyhills cheddar-style cheese, we hope we have something for everyone.”
Annette’s book ‘Home Grown in Cumbria’ is the perfect accompaniment with its recipes for creating delicious food from home grown produce. The book is a celebration of traditional food producers in Cumbria and explains traditional methods of producing food and the advantages of craft food production.
The pub is lucky to have so many food producers on the doorstep”, says author Annette Gibbons, “and with the help of everyone who buys shares, we look forward to the pub re-opening and serving food and drink again soon!”
Anyone who is interested in buying shares or making a donation can find out more at www.thelowtherarms.co.uk. or contact Vivienne Coleman on 01900 881441. News is updated on their Face Book page @lowtherarmscommunityproject.
To find out how to buy your cheese, go to https://www.themawbraycheesecompany.com/.
To buy a signed copy of ‘Home Grown in Cumbria’ contact Annette on 01900 881356.
