Saving the Pub

The LCT is working with and supporting the community in developing a co-operative approach to saving Crosby Ravensworth’s last village pub; The Butchers.  The pub is a free house with seating for over 50 in the lounge and public bars and covers for 30 in the dining room. In addition the pub has 3 letting bedrooms. Further details can be found on the Penrith Farmers and Kidds commercial property pages on their website at www.pfandk.co.uk

 

The pub has been on the market for over 12 months  and closed its doors towards the end of September 2009. Over the years the community has seen a creeping wave of closures in the village; the village shop, the Sun Hotel, the Post Office, has almost lost St. Lawrence’s church “the Cathedral of Westmorland”. What will be next ? The limited bus service, (currently just one day a week out of term time), the nursery or the school?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The LCT group has explored the Hesket Newmarket model where the community formed a cooperative and bought and now run “The Old Crown” pub. There is little doubt that this approach has been extremely successful with the pub building a new restaurant and enlarging the kitchens with a resultant significant turnover increase. Without doubt one key element is that the community now owns this key village asset. It is our belief, and seems to be borne out by what is happening in Hesket, that local ownership leads to support.

 

Although the LCT’s current focus is affordable housing, assets, such as the pub, are an intrinsic part of the rural community. We see the pub as being a key focal point and adding enormous value to our plans to build low cost housing in the village.

 

The aims in order to purchase the pub:

· Set up a management Group

· Gather share pledges

♣ £1,500 per share

♣ 1 share per person or group

♣ 1 share = 1 vote

· Carry out a commercial valuation and survey

· Seek grant funding

· Claim the pledged money and buy the pub

· Draw up tenancy documents

· Advertise and select tenants

· Open the pub

· When funds allow pay a dividend (The Old Crown paid 3% this year)

· Improve the pub and increase the range of services for the community

· Make the “pub the hub” of the community

 

If you are interested in owning a share of a rural, Westmorland pub, then fill out the share pledge form and follow the instructions to return to the LCT.

 

Fill the form in now to own a part of a community pub, which, subject to Natural England consultation, may be, designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or a National Park. Once the pub is re-opened you will be able to visit, and enjoy a pint in, your pub.

 

We MUST emphasise that by filling in the form ALL you are doing is showing an interest. NO money will be asked for from you UNTIL we have obtained enough share pledges for the purchase to proceed. At that point you can finally decide if you wish to purchase a share (or possibly more than one).

 

We held a very successful community meeting on 5th February 2010, which demonstrated the community’s aspirations to retain the pub. Fifty pledges were received on the night and the presentation supported by Julian Ross, the driving force behind the Hesket Newmarket pub cooperative was extremely well received.