The Cricketers in Emlyn Square, Railway Village reopens after restoration
Looking back, 11 April 2026: The Cricketers pub in Emlyn Square, in Swindon's Railway Village, reopened after more than two years of restoration led by Swindon Heritage Preservation, with the ground floor finished and the upper floors still to do.
Looking backThis story covers news from . Swindo wrote it later from the published source, and published it on 12 November 2026. More from that day
Last updated: 12 November 2026
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Photo: Ben Brooksbank via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source (illustrative photo of the place, not of the event)
The Cricketers, a historic pub in Emlyn Square in Swindon's Railway Village, welcomed visitors again on the afternoon of Saturday 11 April 2026 after a restoration project that had lasted more than two years.
The work was led by Swindon Heritage Preservation. By the reopening the ground floor had been restored, with the first and second floors still to be done.
Aaron Marchant, the group's vice-chair, said: "We're here at the grand reopening of one of Swindon's original public houses after an extensive period of restoration".
What was the building going to be used for?
The building was to take on a community role. Mr Marchant said: "It will be an information hub… for private and community hire".
Long-time supporter Royston Cartwright put it this way: "This pub was always a community pub, we now want it to be a community centre".
Future plans included educational visits, creative space for artists, events and possibly accommodation on the upper floors.
Who helped?
Chair Bob Wright thanked Historic England, the lottery fund, the council and local businesses, saying: "We've been very fortunate".
Former MP Robert Buckland, who attended, called it "the end of the beginning" and described the building as "a living, breathing place for the community."
Local historian Angela Atkinson said: "It's just wonderful to see new life being breathed back into it after it being derelict for such a long time".
Swindon24 noted that the reopening came while discussions continued about the future of other historic sites in the area, including the Mechanics' Institute.
