Month 1

3rd August 2026

Dear Investors,

‍ ‍As we complete our first month since reopening The Crown, I wanted to take the opportunity to update you on our progress and to thank you for your continued support and confidence in the project.

The first month has been a whirlwind of activity and an enormously encouraging start. The support we have received from both our investors and the Cuddington community has been exceptional, helping to restore The Crown to its rightful place at the heart of the village. It has been wonderful to see so many familiar and new faces enjoying the pub, reconnecting with friends and neighbours, and making full use of both the bar and garden.

Opening in time for the Village Fête provided the perfect opportunity to showcase our community pub to residents and visitors alike. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and we have welcomed many potential new customers through our doors.

We are also learning quickly about our customers' preferences. Hawkstone has established itself as our most popular beer, closely followed by Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter, while our house rosé has become a firm summer favourite. New additions, such as the Hugo Spritz, have also been enthusiastically received. These insights are already helping us shape our offer and strengthen the business.

While it has been an exciting and successful first month, we have also encountered one unexpected operational challenge that we want to explain openly.

Following the failure of the kitchen extraction system, specialist engineers carried out a comprehensive inspection of the fans, ducting, control systems and associated equipment. Unfortunately, they have concluded that the entire extraction system requires replacement. In the meantime, temperatures in the kitchen have exceeded 40°C, making it neither practical nor safe to continue operating.

As a result, we have taken the difficult but necessary decision to close the kitchen temporarily for approximately three weeks while the new system is installed.

Although this interruption is disappointing, we have chosen to view it as an opportunity rather than simply a setback. The temporary closure allows us to review our food operation and refine the direction we want to take. As part of this process, we have mutually agreed to part company with Chef Tom, who has now left the business.

When the kitchen reopens, we will introduce a lighter bites and food platter offer, reflecting the questionnaire feedback where this was the most popular option. This approach is designed to complement the pub's atmosphere, improve operational efficiency, and provide a commercially sustainable platform from which to grow. We believe it better reflects customer demand and will enable us to develop our food offer in a measured and profitable way.

Alongside the day-to-day running of the pub, work is continuing to complete Abi’s accommodation and the remaining refurbishment projects. The management committee is also exploring further opportunities to strengthen The Crown’s role as a community asset, including clubs, societies, themed evenings, live music and other events that will broaden its appeal and create additional revenue streams.

Whilst no business is without its challenges, the first month has demonstrated the enormous goodwill that exists towards The Crown. Customer numbers have been encouraging, feedback has been positive, and the support of both our investors and the local community gives us every confidence that we are building a sustainable and successful business for the future.

Looking ahead, we will continue to provide monthly updates on our progress and future plans via the Village Blue Sky website, where all formal investor-related information will be made available. Investors are also warmly invited to join The Crown WhatsApp group for more informal, day-to-day updates and news from the pub. To join, please use this WhatsApp link.

Thank you once again for your investment, encouragement and continued support. We will continue to keep you informed as the extraction replacement progresses and look forward to updating you again as we move towards reopening the kitchen and entering the next exciting phase of The Crown's development.

Mike Cottman
Chair of the Management Committee