Help us Save the Holly Bush Pub!

The Holly Bush is one of the oldest pubs in the UK with a fascinating history dating back to at least 1641. Most of the buildings are listed and the whole site is within the Bartington Conservation Area.  As many of you may know, although a very popular and successful business, The Holly Bush in Little Leigh ceased operating as a pub/restaurant in April 2020 after the previous owners retired. It was bought at auction by a property dealer who ceased operations and has tried to split up the site by selling different parts. This has not been achieved and the pub remains closed and unoccupied. 

Little Leigh Parish Council submitted a successful application to register the site (the pub, the barn, the granary & the bungalow, car park, gardens etc) as an Asset of Community Value in May 2021 - this provides a degree of protection from redevelopment. A campaign group was set up to ‘Save the Holly Bush’ and has attracted over 600 followers. Members of the Group have met regularly to plan the campaign. 

We have now established The Holly Bush Pub Ltd as a not-for-profit company with the aim of acquiring the whole site and running The Holly Bush as a community venture. Community ownership of pubs has been successfully achieved all over the UK. We are in touch with several of these and also with the Plunkett Foundation which has supported community ownership of many village pubs. Community owned pubs provide places for the community to come together and draw on local produce and drinks, which in Cheshire is particularly abundant. 

Before we can issue a community share offer, we need to undertake significant legal, consultation and other preparatory work. Following advice from successful community pubs we estimate these initial costs to be in the region of £10,000. This Crowdfunder is in place to support this preparatory work.    

Crowdfunding donations are to fund our preparatory work and will not secure any shareholding rights if we move to a public share offer at a later stage.  All donations, big or small are greatly appreciated.  

 

We are also currently undertaking a survey to help us understand what people want from a future Holly Bush pub - if you have the time, please fill out the survey - every reply helps!: https://s.surveyplanet.com/nugsrhnt

To learn more about the progress of the campaign, please go to www.facebook.com/TheHollyBush