INVESTMENT
1. Why community ownership instead of a private buyer?
• Community ownership protects the asset long-term
• Decisions are made democratically
• Surpluses stay in the village
• Prevents redevelopment or closure
2. What happens if we don’t raise enough money?
• We have a staged funding plan
• Grants and ethical lenders provide additional support
• If the minimum share target isn’t reached, funds are returned
3. Will volunteers replace paid staA?
• No. Volunteers add value but do not replace jobs
• The operator will employ professional staF
• Volunteers support events, gardening, maintenance, etc.
4. What are the risks?
• As with all community shares, capital is at risk
• We mitigate risk through:
o Professional operator
o Conservative financial modelling
o Contingency planning
o Strong governance
5. How will decisions be made?
• One-member-one-vote
• Members elect the management committee
• Major decisions require member approval
6. Will investors receive interest?
• Interest may be paid once the business is sustainable
• This is not a speculative investment
• The primary return is social impact
7. What’s the timeline?
• Share oFer launch
• Grant submission
• Acquisition
• Refurbishment
• Reopening
8. Who will run the pub day-to-day?
• A professional operator selected through a transparent process
• Clear contract, KPIs, and community expectations
9. What if the operator leaves?
• We will have:
o A robust operator agreement
o Succession planning
o A shortlist of alternative operators
10. How can people get involved beyond investing?
• Volunteering
• Skills-based support
• Joining working groups
• Becoming ambassadors for the project
"#$%& Financial Appendix (Template for Your Numbers)
Once your model is finalised, we can drop the exact figures in.
For now, here’s the structure: investors expect.
1. Acquisition Costs
Item Estimated Cost
Freehold purchase £X
Legal & professional fees £X
Surveys & valuations £X
2. Refurbishment & Compliance
Item Estimated Cost
Essential repairs £X
Kitchen upgrades £X
Accessibility improvements £X
Fire & safety compliance £X
Contingency £X
3. Working Capital
Item Estimated Cost
Opening stock £X
StaF & operator onboarding £X
Marketing & launch £X
4. Funding Mix
Source Amount Status
Community shares £X Planned
Grants £X In preparation
Ethical lenders £X Under discussion
Donations/sponsorship £X Early interest
5. Operating Forecast (Years 1–5)
Year Revenue Costs Surplus/Deficit
Year 1 £X £X £X
Year 2 £X £X £X
Year 3 £X £X £X
Year 4 £X £X £X
Year 5 £X £X £X
6. Key Assumptions
• Conservative revenue projections
• Operator-led staFing model
• Seasonal variation accounted for
• Contingency built into all major cost lines
7. Sensitivity Analysis
• Best-case scenario
• Base-case scenario
• Stress-tested scenario