Christmas came early for the Sussex community of East Hoathly on 12 December when it was announced that a campaign to raise sufficient funds to buy its sole remaining pub, “The King’s Head”, had been successful. This is not the first community in the country to go down this road; indeed neighbouring village Chiddingly rejoices in a community-owned shop but to us East Hoathly residents it is a unique and special event. Amid constant news of pub closures, economic pressures on hospitality and other assaults on rural communities, this is rare good news.
East Hoathly is a community in fact and in spirit. My wife and I came here some 16 years ago, returning to East Sussex after three decades away but, nonetheless, strangers to this village. Arriving in deepest winter, knowing nobody, amid dreadful weather and constant power cuts we found a haven of welcome right in the heart of the village, in the pub and the nearby shop.
Everyone is welcome and no one is more important than anyone else
The intervening period has borne out the warmth and unpretentiousness of this community. We have found many new friends, a group of whom we have met with every week in The King’s Head for over ten years. We have held political debates, celebrated Big Birthdays and enjoyed raucous quizzes, interspersed with the occasional meal and pint of the excellent ales brewed on the premises. It is a place where people can meet casually, where everyone is welcome and where nobody is more important than anyone else.
As the well-deserved retirement of owners Bob and Tracy approached and faced with the possible loss of this community hub, concerned members of the community, some with relevant skills and experience in the hospitality sector and business acquisition stepped up to find a way to keep it going. The first step was to tap into others’ experience and find out just what support there might be for community acquisition. Having decided that a plan looked feasible, the team set about establishing credible structures for campaigning, ownership and running the business. Shares were offered to residents with shareholders having a vote on future important issues. To cut a long story short, they did it!
Our local has become OUR local!
As it stands now, the community has raised the £650,000 needed to purchase the pub although there is still work to be done. Essential repairs and upgrades are necessary to ensure the historic Grade I listed building remains safe, accessible, and welcoming for everyone.
It is clear that community ownership will lead to changes in how the pub is run and what it offers but this will always be based on what we collectively need rather than what some distant business HQ decides. When the wider country and the world are in a such bad way, it will be wonderful still to have such a welcoming meeting-place here at home. It is too soon to say how successful and sustainable the model will be but if goodwill was the deciding factor, we are confident. Maybe other Sussex villages at risk of losing their hearts may try community asset ownership. What a start to Christmas! Cheers.
The Kings Head Community Benefit Society is of course still looking for donations to help with refurbishment and repairs. Their GoFundMe campaign is at: https://gofund.me/ef71725e4. For further information and photos: Facebook.com/Kings Head Community Benefit Society and www.kingsheadcbs.org.uk
CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO OUR CROWDFUNDER
HELP US BECOME STRONGER SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DELIVER POWERFUL CITIZEN JOURNALISM!
