The Bell in Bath - Community trying to buy it.

[marty21]

http://www.bellcommunity.org.uk/

It is one of my favourite Bath pubs, a lot of memories from my younger years. The owner wants to sell up, and a community group wants to raise a lot of money (£1m!!) to buy it and run it as a community pub. If any Bath people, or ex Bath people are interested in owning part of a classic Bath pub, here's your chance. I'm thinking about it - trouble is , minimum investment is £500.

 

[Pickman's model]

if you've a lot of memories of it you must have been on the soft drinks.

 

[fractionMan]

I've been mulling it over. It'd be a real shame to lose the bell, it's one of the last independent pubs around with a community bent. The boating community use it a lot, as do other aging hippies & 'alternatives'. Personally I've got a lot of history with the place, I even lived above it for a time.

/in before butchers tells me it's full of middle class liberals & students. It is, to an extent - but they're just one section of the community it serves. That's one of the good things about the place, the variety of age/class/outlook folks it attracts.

It's going to take a lot of bank funding to get going, but that looks fairly hopeful. There's no way the patrons could buy it outright.

 

[marty21]

A mate of mine (another exiled Bathonian) is interested too - we always drink in the Bell if we are down in Bath at the same time. It hasn't changed much in the 30 years or so since I first drank there

 

[fractionMan]

A mate of mine (another exiled Bathonian) is interested too - we always drink in the Bell if we are down in Bath at the same time. It hasn't changed much in the 30 years or so since I first drank there

my gf worked there for over a decade

Give us a msg next time you're down and I'll come meet you for a pint

 

[butchersapron]

Is there a max individual invest?

 

[fractionMan]

Is there a max individual invest?

yup. 20k I think.

 

[marty21]

Is there a max individual invest?

Have you been to the Bell Butchers?

 

[marty21]

my gf worked there for over a decade

Give us a msg next time you're down and I'll come meet you for a pint

definitely - probably be down in the next few weeks I reckon - mum has been saying she hasn't seen my for a while so duty calls

 

[butchersapron]

Ta. Have spread this around people and groups I know, hell of an amount to raise though. What's happened to the community pubs trust thing? I bet the bloody lib dems got rid of it.

 

[fractionMan]

As it stands I'm not sure what the shares buy you other than a return on investment, which isn't what I'd be interested in. The more concrete docs will be released later in the month.

The banking appears to be working out as 1) a couple of the existing managers are backing/proposing the buyout so there's continuity & 2) the pub is a profitable ongoing business.

 

[butchersapron]

Have you been to the Bell Butchers?

Was there last year, students in shorts. Lots of them.

 

[marty21]

Was there last year, students in shorts. Lots of them.

we can ban them when we buy it

 

[fractionMan]

Last week I overheard a young student saying to her friends "it's not always like this" whilst watching a bunch of 40 somethings jumping around to some terrible jazz band.

 

[butchersapron]

Are there any rugby football or cricket clubs based there? Or could be persuaded to base themselves there. That's always useful for fund raising.

 

[fractionMan]

Are there any rugby football or cricket clubs based there? Or could be persuaded to base themselves there. That's always useful for fund raising.

It's more of a muso than sporty type of place. No sport at all tbh.

 

[fractionMan]

Is there a max individual invest?

yup. 20k I think.

From further digging it looks like it's going to be "one member one vote" and they've deliberately limited investment by individuals to make that easier.

 

[butchersapron]

Good, that's sensible and exactly why I asked.

 

[big eejit]

A couple of useful links from DCLG twitter a/c:

"The Community Share Underwriting Fund has been developed in response to the growing number of Community Benefit Societies seeking to raise funds through community share issues. It is operated by our community lending vehicle, Community Land & Finance CIC.
Community share issues are an effective way of mobilising retail investors to back social enterprises that they have a connection with. They have long been used to acquire pubs and village shops..."

http://www.resonance.ltd.uk/funds/underwriters-club/

http://www.pubisthehub.org.uk/

 

[Mr Smin]

It's more of a muso than sporty type of place. No sport at all tbh.

I think it had its own cricket team about 10 years ago. I hazily recall my mate being involved.

 

[cyberfairy]

Used to love it there and like the fact it never changes-but fuck me-over a fiver for a large house red last time I went made me glad I moved up north...

 

[Geri]

It would be a shame if it closed. Me & my sister used to go there to use the internet in the days before people could get it easily at home.

 

[Riklet]

got plenty of blurry n not so blurry memories of the place, so good luck to everyone involved in this... was back in bath at xmas n it was real nice dropping by the bell again. free internet n decent drinks.. plus like fractionMan says it doesn't just serve one type of clientele, it's a real mixed bunch there usually.

 

[William of Walworth]

Good luck with this, Bath people!

 

[fractionMan]

Right, I'm going to try and go down on the 16th and see if I can find the 500 quid to buy a minimum share. I think it's dooable and definitely worth preserving.

Let me know if any of you are coming down and we can meet up

 

[marty21]

I was in the Bell on Saturday afternoon - they have raised about 30% so far with a fortnight to go they are also holding a raffle - tickets a quid - one share the prize

 

[William of Walworth]

Now 43%!

 

[marty21]

Now 43%!

it is looking positive! I still have to send my cheque,which has been delayed as I haven't written a cheque in years! I couldn't find my cheque book so had to order a new one

 

[fractionMan]

cheque? not seen one in years

 

[marty21]

They have now raised 60% - the target of £575,000 was reduced to £500,000 as they have been able to get an increased bank loan - I have my cheque book, will send the cheque at the weekend - just in time for the 20th March deadline