Will you help to stop a country pub being turned into housing?

Red Lion Application Form

RCLG Business Plan

The Red Lion in Little Tingewick, Bucks was closed by Fuller’s pubco in October 2023 and they tried to sell it. There were few offers, none of which came to fruition and there is a very good chance it might soon be advertised as “a development opportunity (subject to planning permission)”.

However, the local villagers didn’t want to lose their only pub (especially as the pub in the next village closed shortly afterwards and looks unlikely to re-open) so they took action. Firstly, they had it registered as an Asset of Community Value, giving their community a window of opportunity to buy the pub (but which closes late next month) and they formed a community group (RCLG) to try to do so. Fuller’s agreed to sell them the pub (for a well-negotiated price) and they started raising money. They’ve done very well, but they still haven’t raised enough money to proceed, so there’s a very real danger this pleasant village pub could become housing.

But you could help save the Red Lion! You could own a small piece of the pub if you can afford the small minimum of £250 required to buy shares or you could just contribute something to their “fighting fund”.

The Community Group Business Plan and Share Prospectus is here: RCLG Business Plan, which you can see would offer you a small return on your money from Year 3 onwards, while your investment would be protected by ownership of the pub building itself, but I am not recommending this as an investment opportunity. But it is your chance to help save a pub either being sold off to another profit-making pubco or becoming converted to housing. You would help it become a proper community pub.

To buy shares (minimum of £250) or just to make a financial contribution to the community buy-out you will need to complete the application form: Red Lion Application Form.