Share issue to help community buy pub

A share scheme is due to be launched to help a community buy its local pub.

The Cross Guns in Pant, Shropshire, closed in October because its owner, Admiral Taverns, concluded it did not have a "long-term sustainable future" within its estate.

The Friends of Cross Guns was set up soon after and it aims to show it has at least £350,000 by 20 April, to prevent the building being put on general sale.

Spokesperson Richard Sheehan said if the pub's future could be secured, it could "become much more than a pub", including being used for community events or a hub for activities, as well as its serving its traditional role.

The Cross Guns had been a pub for about 200 years, he said, but village pubs had to be prepared to offer more.

"There are so many of these pubs across Shropshire that are either closing or are threatened with closure and the only way that we can make them sustainable is by diversifying," he said.

The share issue will be launched on Friday evening at Pant Memorial Hall, with shares also available to buy online.

Sheehan said he hoped it would attract interest from beyond the Pant area.

Because it was registered as a community asset, the campaign group has until 20 April to come up with the money and prevent it being put on general sale. Admiral Taverns said it would welcome discussions with the community.

The company described the pub as "a prominent landmark in the picturesque village" and said it was a "strong believer in the importance of community pubs" and that it had tried to help its licensees run sustainable businesses.

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