GREYHOUND INN COMMUNITY RUN PUB
GRIZEBECK, CUMBRIA
APPLICANT AND BACKGROUND
The Greyhound is located in Grizebeck, a small community of around 200 residents, situated in South Cumbria between Kirkby in Furness and Broughton in Furness on the edge of the Lake District National Park. The village sits on the main A5092 and has no services except the pub and a service station. The pub has had the same owners for the past 6 or 7 years and trade has declined steadily over this period to the point that the pub was becoming unviable and the community were concerned about its future. In December 2008, involvement in a TV programme aimed at helping struggling pubs acted as a catalyst for change. A public meeting took place and a steering group was formed to take over the running of the pub.
PROJECT SUMMARY
The Greyhound Community Pub took over the building in January 2009 and the TV company bought the stock from the owners and paid the first month’s rent and bills. The pub was then staffed with volunteers and opened at the end of January with a Burns Supper, which was a great success. The group then employed a Chef and Manager, and now employ around a dozen part-time bar, kitchen and waiting-on staff, with one or two volunteers working free of charge for 10 or 12 hours a week behind the bar. In addition, volunteers are involved in admin, promotions, and book keeping, etc. For the last year the community has been leasing the pub from the owners and are considering setting up an Industrial Provident Society, which would buy the building through issuing shares, and the business would be let to a tenant.
OUTCOMES
To date, through the efforts of the steering committee, volunteers and with lots of support from the community, the pub has been transformed into a success; a friendly, lively place to be, hosting regular events such as quizzes, music nights, fish & chip nights, free pool nights, walks and cycle rides from the pub. The pub hosted the Grizefest music festival in the summer, the Grizebeck walking festival in the autumn, provided a venue for the Greyhound Challenge bike ride (£3,500 raised for the Northwest Air Ambulance), helped Help for Heroes, and took part in the Broughton Festival of Beer. These achievements have been recognised by the Countryside Alliance and on February 3rd 2010, the Greyhound Community Pub was named as the National Winner of the Best Traditional Business category at the Daily Telegraph/Countryside Alliance Rural Oscars ceremony at the House of Lords.
LESSONS TO LEARN
- Obtain sound professional advice on running the pub as soon as possible
- Running a pub is more complex than anticipated and relying on community support requires many volunteers
- It takes time to build business back up and the pub is unlikely to make a profit in the first year
- Do not underestimate what is involved in running a successful pub
- Running the pub via a committee is challenging
- Community members involved ‘hands on’ must have the necessary management skills to run the business
- A good food (and drink) offer and plenty of community events and activities are essential
PROJECT CAPITAL COSTS
Purchase of SAV and revenue costs for rent and bills.
LICENSEE CONTACT
N/A
