A North Walsham pub has been recognised among the best in the country after being shortlisted for two national awards following a remarkable transformation led by its landlord and the local community.
The Black Swan, a historic pub dating back to 1700s and part of Stonegate Group’s Pub Partners estate, has been named a finalist for both Best Community Pub and Best Pub for Entertainment at this year’s Great British Pub Awards.
The pub, which is run as a not-for-profit community interest company, has undergone a huge transformation since Joseph Ballard took it on in October 2023, bringing together a traditional pub, a 100-seat theatre and a huge programme of community activities under one roof.
Joseph, who grew up in North Walsham, had spent his career working in theatre and running creative charities, as well as performing professionally in the West End and around the world. He had also been using the Black Swan’s function room since 2017 for a community choir, acting classes and pop-up theatre.
When the opportunity arose to take on the pub, Joseph saw a chance to bring his passion for theatre together with his desire to preserve an important community asset in his hometown.
He said: “Being a landlord was never part of life’s plan at all. My background was working in theatre and running creative charities, looking at theatre in communities.
“We’d been using the function room at the pub since 2017 to do a community choir, acting classes and pop-up theatre. When the opportunity came up to take on the pub, it seemed like the opportunity to merge the two together.”
The transformation began immediately, with the pub closing for two weeks while Joseph and more than 60 local volunteers rolled up their sleeves to bring the venue back to life.
Many of the volunteers were members of Joseph’s community choir and acting group, while others simply heard about the project and wanted to help.
Joseph said: “People would turn up with paintbrushes and some old painting clothes and say, ‘I’ve got two hours, what can I do?’ They’d end up spending 12 hours that day doing it. People were literally turning up to help.
“Some of them didn’t know me at all but wanted to help, and now when they come into the pub, they know they’ve painted that or they’ve done that. Everyone feels a bit like they’re part of the story of the pub now.”
The former function room was subsequently transformed into a fully functioning 100-seat theatre, complete with a stage and dressing room, opening in January 2024.
Today, The Black Swan’s theatre hosts professional touring shows and stand-up comedy alongside community productions, amateur dramatics groups, a youth theatre and shows produced in-house.
Its annual Christmas pantomime has also become a popular fixture, with professional actors working alongside a local dance school.
Joseph, who programmes the theatre, writes and directs the pantomime and even performs in it, said the venue was created with the community at its heart.
“We built the stage mainly for the community to be on that stage, but actually we get professional touring shows, professional stand-ups, community productions, our own community acting group and our own youth theatre,” he said.
“We also produce our own shows in-house and have lots of events throughout the year. The community helps shape what we put on in the theatre and what’s going on in the pub.”
Alongside the theatre programme, the pub is home to regular community groups and local charities, with many activities focused on wellbeing and supporting vulnerable people.
There is also a wellbeing centre upstairs, where Joseph offers free and low-cost therapy sessions to people in the local community.
The result is a venue which Joseph believes has become much more than a pub, with new customers returning to pubs after years away while longstanding regulars continue to make The Black Swan their local.
“For me, The Black Swan Pub and Theatre is about its people and it’s about the people who use us and support us,” he said.
“A community is about its people and a sense of belonging. We have people who have lived in the area for years, as well as people who have moved into town and come to us in their first few days and now they class us as their local.
“We’re seen as much more than just the pub. We’re seen as a community asset where people can get entertained and be part of our story.”
The pub’s unique combination of community activity and entertainment is now being recognised on a national stage, with The Black Swan named among the final six pubs in the country in both of its Great British Pub Awards categories.
For Joseph, the recognition is a reflection of the people who have helped shape the pub since its transformation began.
He said: “The award isn’t about going, ‘well done to the landlord’. It’s actually about every single person who supported a part of the pub and has been part of its story.
“It would be a massive accolade for North Walsham and the area. It would be a big salute to everyone who’s been part of our story so far.”
As The Black Swan approaches its third anniversary under Joseph’s stewardship, he says he never imagined the pub would find itself competing for national recognition.
“I never imagined we’d be in a place where we’d get some national accolade as being one of the top in the country for community or entertainment,” he said.
“It shows what we’re doing. Our heart is in it, our passion is in it, and the community is also behind us. Winning the awards would go to every single member of that community.”
The winners of the Great British Pub Awards will be announced at an awards ceremony at the First Direct Bank Arena, Leeds, on 23 September.