Our Story
The New Barley Mow in The Sands...
In September 2024, 108 community members came together to save our pub from being sold by the Stonegate Group for development. Our goal was to keep The Barley Mow open for the community for the next century, a mission we all feel deeply passionate about.
In March 2024, Suzanna Anslow, Gary Selby, and Dominic Whittle launched a campaign to raise the necessary funds. The response was overwhelming, with many people stepping up to help save the pub. After months of complex legal negotiations, 108 investors—both large and small—united by their shared passion, successfully purchased the pub. We did it!
With the work ahead, everyone joined forces to restore the pub in time for its opening on October 19, 2024. The garden cleared, the kitchen expanded, and the cellar refurbished to serve fresh local beers.
We were incredibly fortunate that Helen and Lee came on board to manage the pub. They brought a passion for delicious food, a warm welcome and years of experience in running excellent pubs.
It is with the deepest sadness that our beloved friend and landlady Helsie passed away on Tuesday 17 June 2025 after a short illness. The impact that she had on us all within the community since taking over The Barley Mow pub has been immeasurable. Her warmth, kindness, memory for names and faces, and simple goodness, meant that we all felt as if we had known her for years. Her impact on the pub's success is plain to see and inspires us all to continue the work to ensure it thrives as a fitting tribute to Helsie. Our hearts and deepest sympathies go to her adored family: Lee, Anna, Andy and her grandchildren Daphne and Howard - of whom she was deeply proud.
Lee and his great team are building on this legacy.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who contributed to saving our pub, with special recognition to Gary and Jacqs Selby, who never wavered in their determination to ensure The Barley Mow is preserved for the next century.
History
The Barley Mow was built around 1860, and from the census of 7th April 1861, John Brake, age 41, was the Innkeeper. He had a 7 year Deed at a rent of £42 per annum.
Up to 1900, there were few houses in The Sands and the pub’s trade was mainly workers and men walking to Farnham from Cutmill and Littleworth. Other trade came from people coming to Crooksbury to collect whortleberries and general walkers. Beer was only Tuppence (less than 1p) a pint.
From 1900 to 1935, there was a very strong pub/village cricket team and everyone used to enjoy the end-of-match tea provided by the Barley Mow. The foundations of the original cricket pavilion can be found in the trees at the top end of the Recreation Ground.
In the Pub, there were two rooms on the right of the front door – the parlour and the tap room. The room on the left was the bar. The extension to the left-hand side was originally built as a skittle alley, but subsequently became a coal-shed. The publican was also a gamekeeper, hence the parlour was filled with stuffed animals in glass cases around the walls. The present restaurant area in the Barley Mow down a couple of steps either side of the fireplace, was originally a built on outhouse where Ferrets and Spaniels were bred. The outside lavatories were not brought inside until the mid 1960s.
Geoff Lunn has many photos and info on the village and he recounts how his great-grandfather, William in 1895 moved from the Princess Royal to the Barley Mow. On his death in 1932 the licence was transferred to William’s widow Annie, who was helped by Geoff’s Dad. It was hard work, scrubbing tables and floors and laying fresh sawdust on the floors of the bars.