Buying a pub isn’t going to be quick, easy or cheap. Here our the rough stages we expect our campaign to take over the next six months, and the key dates to get involved and meet the team:

May 2024

  • Initial committee form (Chris, Richard & Jonathan)
  • 29 May 2024 ‘Littlebury Community Pub Limited’ registered

June 2024

  • Kick off meeting at the Pop Up Pub, Friday 7th June
  • Website, email and social media setup
  • ACV Notification & receipt
  • Resident’s Questionnaire circulated
  • Introductory Meeting with the Parish Council (open section)
  • We are able to accept pledges on the website
  • Outline sketches of the proposal
  • Consulting with trade specialists to help shape headline figures for the business plan

July 2024

  • Detailed costings for the outline proposals
  • Village Views advert/entry
  • Polling day information stand, Village Hall, Thu 4th July
  • Pop-up Pub Update, Village Hall, Friday 5th July
  • Draft Business Plan started

August 2024

  • Stand at Granta Festival, Granta House, Aug 25th
  • Press photoshoot arranged outside the pub

September 2024

  • September 4th - Back page of the Walden Local
  • September 6th - Pop-up pub
  • September 12th - Front cover of the Walden Reporter
  • September 29th - BBC Look East feature on community pubs
  • Continue to develop business plan and share prospectus
  • Martin agrees to join as Chef and run the kitchen
  • Cliff joins our campaign

October 2024

  • 1st October - Mentioned in a feature on ITV News about community pubs
  • News coverage on BBC News about Cliff joining the campaign
  • News coverage in the Mirror of the Campaign
  • October 13th - Mention on Cambridge 105 Radio
  • October 17th - Road signs up!
  • October 17th - We have formally joined Plunkett UK, the leading provider of governance, advice and membership rules to community owned businesses.
  • October 18th - Cellar equipment survey with Atlantic Dispense
  • October 20th - Pub Quiz at The Railway Arms, Saffron Walden
  • October 23rd - Building survey completed by Christopher Barker FRICS.
  • October 24th - Info Evening at The Railway Arms food trucks
  • October 29th - Business Buyer & Market Appraisal Valuation undertaken by DABRO associates.

November 2024

  • November 3rd - Pub Quiz at The Railway Arms, Saffron Walden
  • November 11th - We have accepted a Project Viability Grant from the Architectural Heritage Foundation, which will contribute towards the costs of our surveys, valuation and feasibility study as part of our early-stage work to reopen this historic building.
  • November 13th - RICS Red Book valuation received from DABRO.
  • November 13th - We are now formally a Community Benefit Society (CBS) registered by the FCA on the Mutuals Register. Our former ‘Company Limited by Guarantee’ companies house entry now shows Closed/Converted.
  • November 15th - Information Evening at Littlebury Green
  • November 15th - ACV Full Moratorium period expires
  • November 15th - Offer to Greene King submitted

December 2024

  • Tom, Nikhil and Martyn join the management committee, Richard leaves.
  • December 5th - We made an improved offer.
  • December 13th - Calls for ‘best and final’ offers for The Queen’s Head

January 2025

  • January 6th - Greene King’s agent told us that our final bid was unsuccessful, and that they have selected ‘a superior offer’.
  • January 9th - the five-year period for Asset of Community Value protection expires, and The Queen’s Head is removed from the Uttlesford District list.