Good news: Cooperative pubs fight closure
Last updated 28/01/2010 12:54:48
Cooperative pubs fight closure
They have long been a part of British life, traditionally found on street corners up and down the land. But sadly for all those who enjoy propping up the bar, pub closures have accelerated to one every three hours.
There's new hope for worried landlords though, with what's being described as the opening of Britain's first urban co-operative pub.
The Star Inn in Salford was given three weeks' notice of closure but, after locals clubbed together, the pub is back in business as a community-owned co-operative.
"The Star Inn has been part of the community since 1867," said Margaret Fowler, a local resident. "People really missed it when it was closed down and that brought us all together to invest our own cash to re-open the pub. It really was easy to set it up as a co-operative and now we have got our pub back, it's the most fantastic feeling in the world."
Ed Mayo, Secretary General of the group Co-operativesUK, documents rising trends in pub closures and sets out advice on creating co-operative pubs in a new report. "Pub closures can be like pulling the plug on local communities," Ed said. "It is scandalous that pubs like The Star Inn are being closed at three weeks' notice and it is a tribute to the community in Salford that they responded in an innovative answer to the threat of closure."
Julian Ross, who co-authored the report, added: "Working together, we can preserve something that is very important for the community. As a group, we believed we could safeguard our pub's future and turn it into a co-operative, and I want to help encourage other communities to try what we have done."
Julian explained those wanting to save their pub from closure should establish a robust business case and encourage as many people as possible to buy into the idea. They should also, he said, seek advice about setting up a business and talk to banks, other regulars and Co-operatives UK about how to structure a co-operative. Communities should also establish who owns the pub and consider carefully who will run the pub. In the meantime, The Star Inn's regulars and owners are raising a glass to their new co-operative and looking forward to a bright future.
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