A quiz night hosted by EDP editor Nigel Pickover will help to raise money for a village's campaign to buy its own pub and reopen it for the good of the community.
Mr Pickover will preside over the Save Our King's Arms (SOKA) quiz night at Colts Hall Barn in Shouldham on Thursday, when teams of up to six will battle it out to prove who is the village's brainiest.
In a format which follows the rules of previous quizzes held at The King's Arms before it closed last year, participants will face a total seven categories, including a picture round, with 10 questions in each.
The event is being held as part of SOKA's attempts to raise £330,000 to buy the pub, which was forced to shut after its previous tenants were unable to keep up with rent payments.
Mr Pickover said: 'I am delighted to be the host for the Save Our King's Arms quiz night later this week.
'The story of how these amazing residents have come together to buy their village pub and run it as a community venture is a truly inspiring tale. The incredible response they have received so far shows the pub is likely to have a strong customer base and be a great success. It shows that there is indeed a strong future for Norfolk pubs.
'We should do everything we can to help the villagers in their campaign and that is why I am proud to support their vigorous efforts. I hope you will be able to join me for the quiz.'
Organisers have decided to raise a large part of the money – about £150,000 – by selling shares in the venue, which would then be matched by a capital grant SOKA is applying for. A small amount of money would be raised by loan finance.
Shares are being sold for between £50 and £20,000, meaning that no-one will have a controlling stake in the venue and that profits will be ploughed back into the pub or shared between shareholders. Any leftover profits will be put towards good causes in the community.
However, the campaign is also organising fundraisers to help boost the coffers, with a beer festival and fun walk and jog around Shouldham Warren in August having already contributed to the total.
The campaign has raised more than £80,000 so far, with those who have not yet purchased shares being encouraged to do so by the September 30 deadline to give the village the best chance of being able to make an offer.
SOKA secretary Phil Harriss said: 'We've had support from all over. It has been really encouraging and we seem to have raised a tremendous amount by it. We have been told by other pubs that if is often only in the final days of a share issue campaign that people actually get round to buying shares, so to have got this far already is very good news.'
Shouldham once boasted six pubs but the closure of The King's Arms meant it was left with none. That, residents said, galvanised them into action to come up with creative ideas to raise the cash necessary.
Entry to the quiz costs £3 person and there will be fish and chips available for £7 per person, courtesy of the nearby Chalk and Cheese.
There will also be real ale, cider, wine and soft drinks available.
The event starts at 7.30pm and there will be prizes for first, second and third places. To book a place, call 01366 347919 or email info@kingsarmsshouldham.co.uk
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