What Is The Story Behind Comedian Jon Richardson Restoring The Plough Pub In North Yorkshire?

Imagine a classic country pub, the kind with a roaring fire in winter and a sunny beer garden in summer. Now imagine it's been shut for over a decade, sitting silent and derelict. It's a sad story, but one that's all too common in small villages.

But for one pub in North Yorkshire, the story is about to get a whole lot more interesting, thanks to a very famous comedian and a community that refused to give up. The news, announced on Thu 11 Sep 2025, is that Jon Richardson is rolling up his sleeves to help save a local.

A comedian, a village, and a very old pub

It sounds like the start of a good joke, doesn't it? A well-known comedian walks into a pub... except this pub has been closed for 14 years. The comedian is none other than Jon Richardson, and the pub is The Plough in the tiny village of Fadmoor. This isn't just a fleeting visit; he's diving in headfirst to help the local community restore their beloved watering hole. The whole adventure is being filmed for a new observational series on More4, which has the working title, A Yorkshire Pub with Jon Richardson.

The show will follow the entire journey as Jon and the Fadmoor community work together to breathe life back into their local. Fadmoor is a small, rural village right on the edge of the beautiful North York Moors, and like many places in the north of England, the local pub is seen as the centre of everything. This project isn't just about bricks and mortar; it's about reviving the heart of a community.

The story of The Plough

This isn't just any old building. The Plough is a truly historic pub, with its story stretching all the way back to 1782. That means it was serving pints before the French Revolution even kicked off. For over two centuries, it was a place for locals to meet, celebrate, and catch up on gossip. But then, it closed its doors. And for 14 long years, it has stood empty and derelict, a sad reminder of what the village had lost. Many historic buildings fall into disrepair, but the people of this Yorkshire village had other ideas.

They weren't prepared to let The Plough crumble away. Their ambitious plan is to undertake a full renovation to restore the building and reopen it for everyone. This is a massive task, turning a derelict site back into a welcoming pub, but it's a challenge the community is ready for. The goal is to bring this historic pub back from the brink.

So, why is Jon Richardson buying a pub?

It's a fair question. Why would a successful comedian want to get involved with a crumbling old pub? Well, it turns out Jon Richardson has a real passion for them. So much so, he's not just lending his famous name to the project - he has officially become a shareholder. This means he's now a part-owner, invested in making the whole thing a success. He's part of the Fadmoor Community Pub Limited, the group of local people driving the project. In his own words, Jon explains his love for the classic British pub. >"I love pubs so much that I turned my garage into one, but it didn't scratch the itch so now I've ended up owning one. Or a share of a crumbling one, anyway." He went on to say what drew him to this particular project:

"When I first heard about The Plough, I had to go and see it and then when I met the amazing people working to rescue it, I couldn't resist getting involved. Like a good pint, they are lively and cool with good heads on them, and they make you feel better about the world." He's not planning on standing on the sidelines, either. He's ready to get stuck in with the renovation, promising to put in his fair share of elbow grease alongside everyone else.

He added: "Pubs are the beating heart of their communities and we're, hopefully, going to have a great time bringing The Plough back to its former glory. I know it's going to be hard work, but I'm ready to roll my sleeves up and watch other people getting their hands dirty."

A big journey for a small community

This project is a massive undertaking for the village. The effort is being spearheaded by Fadmoor Community Pub Limited, a group formed by residents determined to save their local. The chairman, Peter Jones, knows exactly how big the task is.

He said: "We have a lot of work to do to renovate this derelict pub, which has been closed for 14 years, and bring it back to life as a thriving community pub at the heart of this village." It's a long journey from a derelict site to a fully functioning pub. The renovation will require a huge amount of work, and the More4 series will capture all the highs and lows. The four-episode series promises to be a fascinating look at what it takes for a rural community to pull together and achieve something amazing. As for Jon's role, Peter Jones is already looking forward to celebrating their success.

"We look forward to sharing this journey with Jon and More4 viewers, especially as Jon has offered to buy the first round when we open!" There's no official release date for the show just yet, but the journey to restore The Plough is well and truly under way. It's a story of community spirit, hard work, and the determination to save a piece of North Yorkshire history, one pint at a time.