Dear CCPS supporters,
So far, we have received share purchase applications to a value of over £140,000. This is in itself a remarkable feat for a small community such as ours, and we offer our thanks to all who have already invested. Our minimum shareholding requirement is £210,000, with an optimal target of £230,000. We therefore need to raise at least a further £70,000 before the share offer closes on 20th December 2021.
The pledges in principle we received earlier in the year amounted to over £202,000, hence our confidence in proceeding with the processes and procedures required to get our community ownership venture to this point. However, we are still waiting for approximately 30% of those pledges in principle to materialise as formal share purchase applications. So, WE NEED YOUR INVESTMENT! The minimum share purchase value is £500 and the maximum is £20,000. We welcome applications from anyone who is interested in securing the future of The Countryman’s Inn. If we are not successful in acquiring the pub, your investment will be returned in full.
If the community buyout is unsuccessful, it is very likely that The Countryman’s Inn will close in 2022, and possibly never reopen as a pub. This would be devastating for Hunton, Arrathorne and the outlying areas, and truly diminish the community dynamic of the village. The loss of the only village pub would also have potential implications for the value of property in Hunton. Under community ownership, however, there is huge potential for The Countryman’s Inn to strengthen and diversify local community initiatives, as well as continuing to serve as our local pub and social hub.
You can find the full CCPS share offer prospectus and business plan at www.countrymanscommunity.org. These documents have been awarded the Standard Mark by the Community Shares Unit – a recognition of the Society’s adherence to national standards of best practice and due diligence. We have put stringent measures and contingency plans in place to protect our shareholding members.
With our thanks and warmest regards,
The Countryman’s Community Pub Society Management Committee
Countryman's Community Pub Society 