The Queens Head public house is now closed and for sale, with an uncertain future ahead. We believe community-ownership will secure and revive the pub for future generations. Read about the campaign.
Our Community Pub
Brings us together
For a village pub to work, it needs unwavering local support and shared ownership helps build this. We won’t all agree every detail, but together a great pub can be built from compromise.
Prevents development
Without a community bid, we can expect to spend the next decade fighting developers for planning permission, and the inevitable loss and subdivision of the spacious garden. Developers know community resistance eventually runs out.
Re-invests in the community
Excluding rent, recent tenancies would have run a surplus. However with roughly forty thousands pounds a year leaving the village to corporate HQ, the pub has been unsustainable. Re-investing these sums into the building and garden will make it better for all.
Is the approach that delivers
The Railway (Saffron Walden), The Green Man (Thriplow), the Hare and Hounds (Harlton), the Plough & Fleece (Horningsea), The Three Tuns (Guilden Morden) are all community owned. Read for case studies.
Fund Raising Progress
So far we have 126 individuals pledging to buy one or more shares.
Total £50 shares pledged 2,422.
Total amount pledged £121,100.
Approximately 40% of the way there!
How are Pledges Counted?
Pledges have been made by those completing the Questionnaire questions 9 and 10. If entering a number of shares or total pledge in box 10 we have used that directly. If box 10 was left blank, however Question 9 was answered as 'Yes, as a shareholder' then we count this as a single share of £50 for now. If a range of shares was expressed, we have taken the halfway point.
How has the Goal been set?
We have taken the required shareholder funds from our business plan, which has estimates for working capital requirements, likely purchase value, available grants, mortgage and loans. There is uncertainty in this figure, we will refine it as our model improves.
I'd like to change my pledge
Please pop a short email over to chris@littleburypub.co.uk and let him know the new amount (in multiples of £50 shares) and the total will be updated.
Latest Update - Sep 19, 2024
6 Weeks to go - 126 Pledges, £121,100
We have few updates to share, on the following topics: 1) Financials, Grants and the new Total, 2) Pledges 3) News coverage.
Unfortunately the grants we had hoped to be eligeable for have not come through, and the Plunket Foundation is no longer offering £50k+£50k support to community businesses. Our local Authority is also not extending the lower level of support we have hoped for (£45k) so at the present time, so it looks unlikely that there will be any substantial support in buying the pub from external parties. We have therefore raised the Shareholder target to £300k, and the total we hope to borrow from either the Parish Council’s borrowing, or a commercial mortgage from £150k to £200k. This is a serious setback, and is unfortunately the cicumstances we find outselves in.
Pledges have had support from another 14 potential shareholders, bringing the total number of people supporting to 126, pleding a total of £121,100. If anyone was of a mind to increase their pledge, this would make a real difference - please message us directly on WhatsApp or by email to team@littleburypub.co.uk .
News coverage over the last few weeks has been terrific, and the combination of our campaign and the Ickleton Lion together has made some great front pages:
The Walden Local
“Littlebury and Ickleton villagers fight to save pubs” Villagers in Littlebury and Ickleton are raising money to save their community pubs from closure.
The Queen’s Head in Littlebury is one of three freeholds in the area listed for sale by Greene King, along with the Lion in Ickleton and the Saffron Hotel.
Chris Shucksmith, chair of the Littlebury Community Pub campaign, said: “After the loss of so many rural pubs, it is great that both Ickleton and Littlebury villages are actively campaigning to own and operate their pubs.
“What makes our Queen’s Head in Littlebury special is the great garden - one of the best in the area, and the central spot. We miss it!”
So far, around 120 supporters have pledged to buy approximately 2,400 shares in the pub in the first three months, which is around half of what the campaigners are hoping to raise from members of the community.
The Saffron Reporter
Essex CPRE - The Countryside charity Essex
- 6 Weeks to go - 126 Pledges, £121,100
- Weekly Update - 112 Potential shareholders
- Weekly update - 94 Potential shareholders
- Weekly update - 88 Potential shareholders
- Pledges have crossed £100k!
- Expression of Interest made for a Community Bid
- Fantastic turnout at the Pop-up Pub
- Pop-up Pub at the Village Hall
- The Queens Head is Closed
- The Queens Head is For Sale
Downloads
Let your thoughts be known by printing and completing this straightforward questionnaire and returning it to us at the address given.
Or, let your thoughts be known by completing the online questionnaire. Same questions, and you only need to do this once!