When the first pints flow tonight, some of them might still pinch themselves to make sure it's all really happening.
Villagers at Shouldham didn't give up when their community's last pub closed. Instead they rallied round, they raised £300,000 and they bought it. Then they tidied the garden, they weeded the car park and gave it a lick of paint.
As celebrations get under way at the newly-re-opened King's Arms, many more will raise a glass to a rural community which has bucked the trend of rural decline.
John McGourty, 61, who chaired the Save Our Kings Arms (SOKA) campaign, still can't believe how help came flooding in from far and near.
'I would like to say thank you to all the volunteers for all their efforts and support to enable this to happen,' he said.
'They varied from children to the over 80's and they were not just from the village, but travelled from surrounding villages, Norwich, Ely and further afield. I would also like to thank the EDP for their help and support too.
'We have had a lot of help from local businesses who have given free equipment and generous discounts to help us with the refurbishment. And all the painting was done by volunteers.
'The list of organisations and folks who helped us is now very large and we couldn't have achieved it without all their help.'
Mr McGourty said SOKA campaigners were in no doubt over what they were fighting to preserve. He added: 'The pub was our last one left in the village and a beautiful building, and part of heritage that should be protected.'
Landlord Ian Skinner, who will run the pub with his partner Abbie Panks, said: 'This has taken us two years. There are a lot of people who have worked very hard and without their help this wouldn't have been possible. Our pub is so unique, people are curious, and everyone wishes us well and wants the best for us.'
South West Norfolk MP Elizabeth Truss, who supported the campaign, said she was looking forward to joining tonight's celebration.
'What has been achieved by everyone is absolutely fantastic,' she said. 'When I spoke at the event last year in support of the sale of shares in the pub, I was so incredibly impressed by the professionalism and organisation of the campaign. The prospectus was very detailed, the presentation spot on and I am not at all surprised that this has been such a success.
'The ambitions and vision for the future of the Kings Arms, particularly community involvement, was one of the key points that I raised with the Department for Communities when submissions were placed for government funding. I am delighted to attend the official opening event tonight and certainly look forward to my pint at the bar with all the villagers that make up the co-operative of Shouldham Community Enterprises.'
Is your village pub under threat? E-mail newsdesk@archant.co.uk.
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