Enterprise Hub visits the pub

Here at The Co-operative Enterprise Hub, we're always keen to highlight stories and news from some of the organisations we've supported in the past.

This week, we were delighted to see press coverage for The Lyvenet Community Pub Limited, a member-owned organisation created with the intention of saving a village pub in Cumbria.

Yesterday, a number of articles appear in local publications, sharing the news that the organisation had surpassed £100,000 in funding; over a third of the total needed to reopen the pub. Our involvement with the group began in March, when the community approached us for help and advice in March.

Speaking to the Carlisle News & Star, David Graham, one of the six directors of the pub, said:

"Reopening the pub will put the heart back into our village. We have been delighted with the support that we have received so far however, we still have a lot of work to do.

"Our plan is quite simple really, to buy and reopen a traditional Cumbrian pub selling local ales, good quality local food and offering a warm welcome to all for traditional pub sports and pastimes, local events, celebrations, music and culture."

Commenting about the organisation, Michael Fairclough, head of community and campaigns at The Co-operative Group said:

"The closure of a pub can represent more than just another business closing, a well-run ‘local’ is an important part of the social life of a community – this is another great example of people taking ownership into their own hands and having a say in the running of businesses and services important to the demands of local communities."

You can see a video case study of another community pub which has benefited from our support below: