A community is being urged to back a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to save its village pub for future generations.
The Marquis Cornwallis pub in Chedburgh, near Bury St Edmunds, closed its doors in October 2016 and villagers have rallied behind a campaign to save the building.
Villagers launched a community benefit society – the Chedburgh Marquis Community Hub (CMCH) – in June and were awarded support in the form of a three-year business programme, led by the Plunkett Foundation.
The society consulted with the community, produced a business plan and has now launched a share issue campaign to buy the pub, which is an Asset of Community Value (ACV).
The shares will help raise the funds to buy and renovate the pub building and land. Villagers are aiming to turn The Marquis into a popular community pub alongside a café and shop.
A successful pop-up pub event was held in June, where villagers got the chance to hear more about the scheme.
A further information event – named The Marquis in Exile – is now being held on October 19 at the Erskine Centre in Chedburgh at 7.30pm to celebrate the share issue.
The Portable Pint will be running the licensed bar at the event, with hot food from The Mobile Pizza Company, and there will also be live music and a raffle.
A spokesman for CMCH said: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to secure the future of the Marquis Cornwallis and make it into a truly useful and welcoming community hub.
“CMCH envisages good food and drink, a café, a small shop, a collection point, a meeting place for local groups.
“Please visit the website www.savethemarquis.co.uk to find out more, read the business plan and download the share prospectus.”
Speaking in June, James Alcock, executive director at the Plunkett Foundation, said: “We’re so pleased to be able to support Chedburgh Marquis Community Hub, who are working hard to make sure their community can benefit from everything that having a thriving local pub brings.
“Pubs that are owned and run by the community are so much more than a place to buy a drink.
“They provide important social spaces and services for local people, and are central to their community’s sense of place and identity.”
“Please visit the website www.savethemarquis.co.uk to find out more, read the business plan and download the share prospectus.”
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