Co-operative Pubs might not be the right option for every community and much will depend on what you are looking to do, how you are going to achieve it and who you will be working in partnership with in the community. If you decide that a Co-operative Pub is not right for you there are other options to help you save your local pub or re-open a pub that has been closed.
CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) is able to provide information on the range of options that are available to communities looking to save their local. Take a look at their website or contact them on camra@camra.org.uk or 01727 867201. It is also worth contacting your local CAMRA branch. It find out which branch is local to you, use CAMRA’s online branch finder.
Options include a small group of individuals buying the pub as an investment and working with the landlord to help the establishment develop and provide additional services that will generate additional income to sustain the business. CAMRA will signpost you to the most appropriate person to speak to such as Pub is the Hub and other organisations.
There is also the potential to use the planning system to ensure that genuine attempts are made to sell the pub as a going concern. If you are based in a village and the pub is the last pub in the community we recommend that you speak to your local authority planning department as you may be able to use what is commonly called the ‘last pub in the community’ planning policy. This is where the last pub in the community has to be on the market as a pub at a fair market rate before any planning permission for demolition or change of use is granted. CAMRA is campaigning for this planning policy to apply for all pubs.
There are a range of legal forms and organisational types which you can use if you decide that an Industrial and Provident Society is not for you. For an easy to understand guide to legal forms and organisational types Simply Legal is highly recommended.
If you decide that you would like to lease the pub rather than the community buying the building, Pub is the Hub has developed lease agreements for community groups with pub companies. To find out more see the Pub is the Hub website.