Tag: TheWhiteLion

Save The White Lion NEWS Update #5

From David Leader, White Lion Steering Group Chairman:

We are very pleased to say that the Broadwindsor Community Pub is now a legal business. The articles of the business make it clear that this is a community pub run for the benefit of the community and is a not-for-profit organisation.

No business can start without funds and we need to raise about £30,000 quickly to carry out essential refurbishment, buy equipment mainly for the kitchen, purchase stock and pay the wages of employees.

Opening the White Lion is going to be a challenge for us all but we believe that we can make it happen. Those wonderful evenings where the community comes together in convivial surroundings with conversation and laughter can happen again.

There will be a public meeting on Tuesday 11 January at 7pm where we can explain our plans, answer questions and listen to suggestions.

We hope to hold this meeting at the Comrades Hall but if this is not allowed because of the Covid situation we will try to hold it on Zoom. We hope that as many people as possible will attend. Please look out for updated information.

The Steering Group would like to thank all those who have shown such an enthusiastic interest in saving the White Lion.

– David Leader, White Lion Steering Group Chairman

SaveTheWhiteLion.Org

#Broadwindsor,#Drimpton,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Village,#WestDorset,#Dorset,#2021,#DAONB,#DorsetLife,#PalmersBrewery,#TheWhiteLion,#BWGPC,#CommunityPub,#SaveTheWhiteLion,#PlunkettFoundation,##ComradesArms,#NFP,#Funding,#BeKind,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

Save Our Pub Gig Postponed & New Rules At Comrades Hall

The Steering Group had organised a FUNdraising gig for The White Lion, Broadwindsor on Saturday, 15th January, 2022

Below is the content of an email sent out to all hirers of the Comrades Hall. Consequentially, the event has been postponed.

QUOTE:

This is a general email to all hirers to give you information regarding the latest changes in Covid regulations as announced by the government on Wednesday, and how it may affect your use of Comrades Hall.
At the present time, Comrades Hall remains open for use.

From FRIDAY 10th DECEMBER:

Comrades Hall is considered an ‘indoor public space’ and therefore mask wearing should be mandatory inside the premises. This applies to any users of Comrades Hall over the age of 11, except for those who are exempt, or where a separate risk assessment/ group association policy is in place for youth organisations.

However, where hirers and their users are sitting down to eat or drink, or carrying out exercise, then masks do not need to be worn. In these circumstances, participants should put their masks back on once they are able to do so, and when moving around within the premises. Please ensure you as the hirer explain this to your participants should your use of the hall include this option.
More information can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54373904

Due to the small capacity of Comrades Hall events, currently no covid vaccine passport would need to be shown for any event or hire, but it would be good practice to ask your participants to take an LFT before attending an event at the hall.

All other information remains as per my previous email and according to https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do

UNQUOTE

SaveTheWhiteLion.Org

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Save The White Lion NEWS Update #4

A summary of the latest minutes from the Steering Group’s meeting on 30th November, provided by Margery Hookings:

Work is going on behind the scenes to re-open the White Lion in Broadwindsor as a community pub. The community needs to raise at least £30,000 to make it happen.

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 latest meeting, excluding commercially sensitive or personal information.

Save the White Lion, summary of meeting 30/11/21

Company structure:
Work ongoing. A set of articles has been drafted for a new company limited by guarantee with Community Interest objects. If acceptable this entity will shortly be registered at Companies House.
Business plan and application for membership almost ready for publication for circulation to donors. 

Bank account:
Once the new company is established, a bank account can be set up.

Timescale:
The earliest for us to be ready to go to the public would be the first week of January.
Looking at four weeks for refurb so maybe opening in March.

Call for action:
Public meeting, possibly mid-January, followed by door-to-door around the village, coupled with social media campaign. Unanimously agreed that company membership to cost £30. Like a supporter’s club, people can donate any amount to the appeal (less or more than membership costs). By buying membership, members can attend an annual meeting.

Grant funding streams in addition to public donation:
Ongoing research and submission at any time.

Staff:
Ongoing discussions with applicants.

John Heys:
John is standing down from the steering group because of other commitments. He was thanked for his hard work. He still wants to be involved in practical side of refurb.
Chris E will help with in overseeing quotes etc.

Next meeting:
Date to be confirmed.

SaveTheWhiteLion.Org

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Buy Local Christmas Cards And Save The White Lion

The picture being used is adapted from an original painting by Hursey resident, John Iveson.

Cards are available in sets of 5 in compostable wraps at Broadwindsor Community Stores now, priced at £2.50.

All profits to the Save the White Lion fund.

Why not use Scout Post too? More HERE.

SaveTheWhiteLion.Org

#Broadwindsor,#Drimpton,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Village,#WestDorset,#Dorset,#2021,#DAONB,#DorsetLife,#PalmersBrewery,#TheWhiteLion,#BWGPC,#CommunityPub,#SaveTheWhiteLion,#PlunkettFoundation,#ChristmasCards,#ComradesArms,#Update,#Funding,#Christmas,#ScoutPost,#BeKind,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

Comrades Arms Closed This Weekend

A message from landlord of the Comrades Arms, Andrew Hookings:

“Sadly due to a long standing booking the bar will be closed on Friday and Saturday nights, but will reopen and return to normal service on Sunday 28th November between 12 noon and 3pm and then Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights from 6pm until further notice.

Details shortly of Christmas and New Year opening times.”

SaveTheWhiteLion.Org

#Broadwindsor,#Drimpton,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Village,#WestDorset,#Dorset,#2021,#DAONB,#DorsetLife,#TheWhiteLion,#CommunityPub,#SaveTheWhiteLion,#ComradesArms,#Funding,#BeKind,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

Save The White Lion NEWS Update #3

A summary of the latest minutes from the Steering Group’s meeting on 18th November, provided by Margery Hookings:

Work is going on behind the scenes to re-open the White Lion in Broadwindsor as a community pub. The community needs to raise at least £30,000 to make it happen.

The Steering Group comprises:

  • David Leader (Chair)
  • Elaine Leader
  • Susanna Newall
  • Chris Newall
  • Sandra Burrows
  • Charles Ouin
  • Luke Pickering
  • Andrew Hookings
  • Margery Hookings
  • John Heys
  • Fraser Hughes
  • Chris Edgerley
  • Rick Dyke.

 The following is a summary of the latest meeting, excluding commercially sensitive or personal information.

Save the White Lion, summary of meeting 18/11/21

Community Benefit Society application – because of changed criteria, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) turned down our application.  It is not worth us appealing due to time, money and the FCA is unlikely to back down so we now need a new legal structure.  This is likely to be a Community Interest Company. Investigations and communication continue. [This means the community pub is not likely to open until early 2022.]

Applicants – we are in contact with two sets of people who have applied to run the pub.

Business plan – This continues to be updated. Cash flow in the first year will depend on the starting date.

Grants and fundraising:

  • It was hoped to hold two fundraising events before Christmas but these have been put on hold because of high covid rates locally. Local musicians are planning to stage a gig on Saturday 15 January 2022 at Comrades Hall in aid of the Save the White Lion fund, for which the committee is very grateful. Committee members will be on hand to run the bar and man the door.
  • There has been a gradual decline in numbers at Comrades Arms, possibly because of covid, but the pop-up bar continues to raise money for the community pub campaign. [£1,750 so far.]
  • Grant-making bodies need to know our legal structure before we can proceed with grant applications.
  • We will need a public meeting to seek funding from the community. A certain amount of detail about the plans will be within the prospectus, along with display boards. The date of this meeting and the way forward hinges on the outcome of discussions about the legal structure of the community business.
  • A Christmas card featuring an adaptation of John Iveson’s painting of the White Lion will be available for sale in packs of five for £2.50. These will be on sale at the shop. An initial print run of 500 was agreed.

Refurbishment:

There has been a constructive meeting with Palmers. Builders have been working recently on behalf of the brewery at the back of the pub.

Banner – Chris E has made enquiries re a large banner which will be purchased and placed in a prominent position once we go back to the community at a public meeting.

Tree lights in the Square – Palmers have agreed to a Christmas tree above the pub door.

Next meeting – the next meeting will be held once we have an update on the new legal structure to take the project forward.

SaveTheWhiteLion.Org

#Broadwindsor,#Drimpton,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Village,#WestDorset,#Dorset,#2021,#DAONB,#DorsetLife,#PalmersBrewery,#TheWhiteLion,#BWGPC,#CommunityPub,#SaveTheWhiteLion,#PlunkettFoundation,#ChristmasCards,##ComradesArms,#Update,#Funding,#BeKind,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

Save the White Lion NEWS Update #2

A summary of the latest minutes from the Steering Group’s meeting on 18th October, provided by Margery Hookings:

Work is going on behind the scenes to re-open the White Lion at Broadwindsor as a Community Pub. The community needs to raise at least £30,000 to make it happen.

The Steering Group comprises:

  • David Leader (Chair)
  • Elaine Leader
  • Susanna Newall
  • Chris Newall
  • Sandra Burrows
  • Charles Ouin
  • Luke Pickering
  • Andrew Hookings
  • Margery Hookings
  • John Heys
  • Fraser Hughes
  • Chris Edgerley
  • Rick Dyke.

 The following is a summary of the latest meeting, excluding commercially sensitive or personal information.
Save the White Lion, summary of meeting 18/10/21

Community Benefit Society application –

Slight delay while the Plunkett Foundation, which is advising us, talks to the Financial Conduct Authority about the legality of the set-up before we can go to the community with a share offer. We should know within three weeks.

Grants and fundraising –

Broadwindsor Group Parish Council has agreed a grant of £5,400 which represents three years’ grant all in one go. A great deal of work has been carried out to identify suitable grant-making bodies. It is difficult to pursue these while we await confirmation of the legal set-up of the organisation running the pub. Comrades Arms had made a profit of £700 in the first two weeks. People within the local community are working on fundraising events in the village.

Manager –

There have been several expressions of interest so far. Discussions and advertising ongoing.

Business plan –

An abridged version has been amended to include skill sets and this will be used in grant applications. A three-year cash flow will be put into the plan. Firm costings for the refurb will need to be included in the plan.

Refurbishment –

A great deal of time and research has been put into structural work and furnishing needed before the pub can reopen. This has to be costed to put into the business plan. Volunteers have offered help with structural work. The Steering Group was unanimous on the proposed physical layout of the pub and furnishings as per the plan drafted in conjunction with the brewery. More details will be unveiled when the community is approached to buy shares.

The next meeting is due to be held on 1 November.

SaveTheWhiteLion.Org

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The White Lion Makes The Bridport News

Bradley White, reporter for the Bridport & Lyme Regis News spoke with Steering Group Chair, David Leader and published the following:

VILLAGERS are hoping to raise their glasses this Christmas as they strive to launch their community pub.

The White Lion in Broadwindsor is set to reopen with the village’s residents at the helm.

The Palmers pub closed in the summer and since then there have been negotiations with regard to the community taking it over.

A steering group was put together consisting of a number of villagers with expertise in running pubs and community venues, along with a solicitor and some parish councillors.

The group has been in talks with Palmers in recent months after a survey revealed 95 per cent of respondents were in favour of the White Lion being run as a community pub.

There is currently a ‘principle agreement’ in place between the steering group and Palmers, with a contract expected in the near future.

Parish councillor David Leader is leading the project.

He said: “It’s exciting and it is going very well. A lot of people are investing a lot of time and effort in trying to make this happen and there’s a lot to be encouraged by.

“Things have moved on positively in terms of discussions – we’re not there yet but we have draft legal agreements which are being worked on.

“Whilst there is not currently a contract there are principle agreements in place with Palmers but there are several things which need to be ironed out.

“In an ideal world we would like to be open for Christmas. There are a number of factors which could delay that date but that is what we are aiming for.”

The next part of the plan will be to raise the funds needed to cover liabilities, refurbishment and the initial purchase of stock. The steering group estimates around £30,000 will need to be raised.

One of the ways the group hopes to achieve this is through a community share issue, in which members of the community can buy into the project in exchange for voting rights.

In order to go through with this, the pub needs to be incorporated as a not-for-profit business, which the group are hoping to go through this month. At this point the group will be out and about in the village to drum up support.

In the meantime, members of the steering group have started up ‘the Comrades’ Arms’, a makeshift pub run out of the Broadwindsor Village Hall.

Mr Leader said: “The Comrades’ Arms has been opened as a temporary measure so that there is an open pub in the village. It is also a way which we can raise funds and a smaller project for the steering group to prepare them for the running of the pub.

Mr Leader added that there are a number of fundraising activities being planned for the coming weeks.

SaveTheWhiteLion.Org

#Broadwindsor,#Drimpton,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Village,#WestDorset,#Dorset,#2021,#DAONB,#DorsetLife,#PalmersBrewery,#TheWhiteLion,#BWGPC,#CommunityPub,#SaveTheWhiteLion,#BridportNews,#BradleyWhite,#ComradesArms,#BeKind,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

The White Lion Gets A Facelift

Broadwindsor.org has had several enquiries and photos sent in over the last couple of days due to of all the activity taking place at the White Lion: painters outside… lights on inside… lights on in the evening… had anything been agreed?

The doors, windows and fascia boards have been rubbed down and painted in preparation for the day when the White Lion reopens its doors.

Steering group chairman David Leader said: ‘It’s fantastic to see that Palmers are investing in the White Lion. All the outside woodwork is being cleaned, prepared and repainted. This will make a huge difference to the appearance of such a beautiful historic building which sits at the heart of our community. We are very grateful to Palmers.’

On Tuesday 5th October, previous landlords Spike and Vikki handed in their keys as their tenancy came to an end and they said a final goodbye to the place that was their home for nearly four years. On Facebook Vikki thanked all for their support and wished all well for the future.

The Save The White Lion steering group continue to work hard behind the scenes to re-open and run the White Lion as a Community pub. Keep up to date on the website: https://savethewhitelion.org.

Grant applications to various funding bodies have been submitted and a share issue is being prepared to be offered to villagers. The Steering Group published an advert two weeks ago seeking a live-in manager – More info HERE.

More details are expected soon. Steering group member Margery Hookings now has the position of keeping us all informed. 🙂

#Broadwindsor,#Drimpton,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Village,#WestDorset,#Dorset,#2021,#DAONB,#DorsetLife,#PalmersBrewery,#BWGPC,#CommunityPub,#TheWhiteLion,#Decoration,#LocalEmployment,#LiveInPosition,#BeKind,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

Live-In Manager Sought For The White Lion

The Steering Group of the Save The White Lion campaign released a job advertisement this morning.  We are assured that negotiations with Palmers continue to move forward positively.  The Steering Group have applied to the regulatory authorities to have the Community Pub set up as a not-for-profit legal entity and this will take 4 weeks.

The Group need to go through this process to “search for a talented couple or individual to take control of the day-to-day operations, likely to be around December ‘21 or January ‘22“.

What they want:

“We’re seeking a couple or an individual who can bring both aspects. You’ll be experienced, with a proven track-record of building great food-led businesses, and of course running a bar with well-kept ales and a wide variety of wines and cocktails. You’ll define and shape the menu, source local ingredients, and build a reputation for quality. And always a warm welcome and excellent service.”

What they are offering the potential candidate(s):

  • A competitive salary (amount undisclosed).
  • Live-in status in a spacious, self-contained, four bedroom flat set over two floors in a beautiful grade II listed building in the heart of Dorset.
  • The chance to shape the direction of the pub and build a business you can be proud of.

To apply for this position, please contact info@savethewhitelion.org in the first instance.

To read the full advertisement – Click HERE.

#Broadwindsor,#Drimpton,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Village,#WestDorset,#Dorset,#2021,#DAONB,#DorsetLife,#PalmersBrewery,#BWGPC,#CommunityPub,#TheWhiteLion,#LocalEmployment,#LiveInPosition,#BeKind,#BeSafe,#StaySafe