The White Lion Steering Group met by video call on Monday 3rd January to discuss preparations for the public meeting at Comrades Hall, Broadwindsor, on Tuesday 11th January at 7pm.
This is the meeting at which members of the public will be asked to support the fundraising campaign to raise the £30,000 needed for the village to take over the White Lion as a tenant and operate it as a community pub.
The deal negotiated with Palmers Brewery represents the best chance the village has for the pub to be refurbished and reopened in spring 2022. The Steering Group believe that community management is the only way the pub can survive. A village pub at the heart of the community benefits everyone, not just pub goers. It helps to keep the community together, provides a social hub and impacts on property prices.
The Steering Group comprises:
- David Leader (Chair)
- Elaine Leader
- Susanna Newall
- Chris Newall
- Sandra Burrows
- Charles Ouin
- Luke Pickering
- Andrew Hookings
- Margery Hookings
- Fraser Hughes
- Chris Edgerley
- Rick Dyke.
The following is a summary of the meeting on 3rd January, excluding commercially sensitive or personal information:
- A flyer will be delivered to Broadwindsor households, with supporting information on the websites: SaveTheWhiteLion.org, Broadwindsor.org and Broadwindsor Group Parish Council at broadwindsorgroup.gov.uk
- The steering group will deliver meeting invitations to households by the end of this weekend (8th-9th January). This will be followed up by personal visits to households to those not at the meeting on 11th January.
- Supporting information will comprise a summary of the project and its history, the steering group vision and the benefits to the community, securing the White Lion’s future and Business Plan forecast, a membership form, legal structure and explanation of funding sources – which could include Crowdfunding if match funding is available.
- It is hoped a video link can be set up and publicised for those who can’t get to the meeting in person or if Covid regulations prevent large numbers attending.
- It was agreed that membership of Broadwindsor Community Pub, which gives members a right to the attend the AGM and vote and to ask questions of the management team, will be £5. This is the same as Broadwindsor Community Stores. However, the community needs to raise a minimum of £30,000 through donations to enable the steering group to sign the tenancy with Palmers.
- The fundraising campaign will take place over a four-week period from Jan 11th – Feb 8th 2022. The Steering group will sign the tenancy with Palmers Brewery on 17th February only if the necessary target has been reached. Then refurbishment can take place and a manager appointed. Discussions about potential manager are ongoing.
- Local businesses are being approached to support the community pub project. The Comrades Arms has already raised £3,000 for the project. A banner will be put up on the hedge at Bernards’ Place to highlight the fundraising campaign, alongside a Yard of Ale ‘thermometer’ so everyone can see how much we still need to raise.
- Hard copies of the Business Plan will be available at The Comrades Arms / shop / post office and be available online. A limited number will be available for inspection at the public meeting on 11th January.
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