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Chequer Inn, Ash
Three and half years after Ash residents started campaigning to save our historic village pub, the doors are once again open at the Chequers.
The Chequer Inn Ash Society would like to thank everyone for their continued support, and would like to raise a glass to everyone for achieving what was supposed to be the impossible!
PRESS RELEASE – THE CHEQUER MATES
The first Shareholders’ meeting of The Chequer Inn Ash Society Ltd was held on the 5th June, 2017. At the time of the meeting, the necessary funds raised to purchase The Chequer Inn was just over £150,000 from members of Ash community. This is a remarkable amount for a village to raise in a few months – but not enough for the asking price of the property. Although a tremendous amount had already been invested, we were still short of our target.
We also reported on our grant and loan application being considered by The Plunkett Foundation. Their “More Than A Pub” scheme is a pub business support programme helping rural community co-operatives; however, they require the community to raise at least £200,000 to show their commitment to the purchase. We are pleased to be able to report that the existing 200 shareholders responded magnificently to boost funds and to date we have reached £212,000. We are also delighted that, since passing this news onto The Plunkett Foundation, their Loan and Grant Panel have agreed a conditional offer of an additional £50,000 grant, if a £50,000 loan is approved.
David Greaves from the Society says “This is exciting news from the Plunkett Foundation and a clear recognition of the Society’s work towards purchasing the Chequer Inn for the community. This is fantastic news for the community of Ash!”
Investor Colin Guest says “The grant is very welcome and tangible recognition from the government that the much loved and historic Chequer Inn is ‘More than a Pub’ and should play an important part in Ash community life for centuries to come.”
Shareholder Hazel Howard says “This is a fabulous endorsement and welcome boost to all the local people who have invested and supported the campaign in various ways. We have always believed that our efforts to purchase The Chequer Inn and make it a great community hub can and will be successful but it’s fantastic that the Plunkett Foundation agree with us.”
Matthew Titterton, who last year successfully campaigned to prevent the Chequer Inn from being developed, says “Our goal is to raise £430,000 to purchase the pub and cover all associated costs like repairs, refurbishment and start up costs, so we are now only around £100,000 short. At the meeting it became clear that attendees were aware of others that had ‘missed the boat’ or had forgotten to submit their share applications but were keen to invest. A vote was taken and it was decided that the Share Offer would be re-opened for a limited time so new applications would be accepted until the 31st July. We want to secure the Chequer Inn and make it the community hub that Ash needs.”
The more that is raised by the community, the less that needs to be borrowed and it means that local people can have a say in how it is run. Shares can be bought at £100 each and all application forms as well as further details are on the website – www.savethechequerinn.co.uk We can be contacted at email hidden; JavaScript is required or 01304 813010 to request a form by return email or post.
This offer to subscribe to the Community Share offer so that the Pub can be purchased for the Village is now closed.
If you require any information about the purchase of shares please contact us on email hidden; JavaScript is required
Help buy the Chequer Inn and grounds for the Community Share Offer open until 18th April 2017
You can download our Business Plan, the Society’s Rules, and the Community Share offer Prospectus
BUSINESS PLAN – click here
SHARE OFFER PROSPECTUS – click here
SHARE OFFER APPLICATION – click here
Update 28 August 2016
Launch of Community Share Scheme.
Update 2nd March 2016
Dover District Council advises the owner intends to sell the property and formal notice is given as an Asset of Community Value.
Update 25th February 2016
DDC’s Planning Committee decided against allowing the conversion of the Chequer Inn to a residential dwelling.
Update 16th February 2016
DDC’s Planning Committee will decide planning applications 15/00624 and 15/00625 at its meeting on Thursday Feb 25th, commencing at 6.00pm. The Parish Council has been advised by the Save the Chequer campaign group that the Planning Officer’s updated recommendation to the Planning Committee continues to recommend approval of the applications.
Update : 12th February 2016
DDC issued a short notice advising the Chequer Inn has been relisted as an Asset of Community Value.
Update: 5th February 2016
Following representations from the Save the Chequer Inn group and discussion at the 1st February monthly meeting, the parish council submitted a letter to DDC to supplement its consultee feedback.
Update: 20th January 2016
The planning application to convert the Chequers to a dwelling was dropped from the Jan 21st Planning Committee meeting agenda and will be rescheduled to a later date.
Update: 15 January 2016
The SaveTheChequerInn campaign called a public meeting for Monday 18th January, 7.30pm at St Nicholas Church.
Update: 12 January 2016
DDC notified the planning applications for the Chequer Inn’s conversion to a dwelling will be heard by DDC’s Planning Committee meeting on Thursday 21st January, commencing at 6pm.
Ash resident, Matt Titterton, of the “Save the Chequer Inn” campaign organised a peaceful rally of supporters held outside the DDC council offices before the Planning Meeting. He was allocated time to speak to the Committee meeting to present the campaign’s objections to the application and make a case for its refusal.
Update: 04 January 2016
The SaveTheChequerInn campaign called a public meeting for Monday 5th January, 7.30pm at St Nicholas Church, Ash. Further developments were presented including the submission to DDC of a community application to list the Chequer Inn as an Asset of Community Value, referral of planning application 15/00624 to the DDC Planning Committee after numerous objections were registered, and the status of the project involving the BBC.
Update: 11th December 2015
The developer’s application to build a dwelling on the land at the rear of the Chequer Inn was withdrawn. The planning application to convert the Inn to a dwelling was submitted to Dover District Council for a decision.
The SaveTheChequerInn campaign has called a public meeting for Monday 14th December, 7.30pm at St Nicholas Church, Ash, to canvas local opinion as to whether there’s a will to “save this historical building from a house conversion and reclaim it back as a respectable, well managed community public house”. The meeting was organised by Ash resident Matt Titterton who stated “…… there’s been contact from a national BBC journalist investigating why 29 pubs a week are closing, and has uncovered a lot of what the large Pub Companies and developers are doing. Additional to this, she is pitching another TV show, which for convenience reasons needs to be based in Kent. The idea is for a run-down pub to be bought by a community and turned around. This would be presented by Neil Stuke, a well-known TV actor who lives in Deal – a builder, chef and owns a share in a farm-shop. He knows the pub industry well, has a lot of contacts, and there has been some interest from a couple of local breweries. Jimmy from Jimmys Farm also wants to help highlight it. Hopefully the weight of a national broadcaster behind us could help sway the developer, and the media attention could also help lower renovation costs of the building.”
Update: 2nd November 2015
An amended planning application DOV15/00624 | Change of use and conversion to residential dwelling (Use Class C3) (existing lean-to walkway to be demolished) and erection of a garage | Chequer Inn, Chequer Lane, Ash, CT3 2ET was submitted. Too late to be considered at the parish council meeting that evening, it will be discussed and any submission determined when the full parish council meets on 16th November as the Finance Committee.
No formal advice of decisions in respect of the earlier applications had been notified.
Update: 30th June 2015
Three planning applications have been listed on Dover District Council’s website in respect of the Chequer Inn.
1/ DOV/15/00624 | Change of use and conversion to residential dwelling (Use Class C3) (existing lean-to walkway to be demolished) | Chequer Inn, Chequer Lane, Ash, CT3 2ET.
2/ DOV/ 15/00625 | Internal and external alterations to facilitate conversion into residential dwelling (existing lean-to walkway to be demolished) | Chequer Inn, Chequer Lane, Ash, CT3 2ET.
3/ DOV/15/00622 | Erection of a detached dwelling and garage | Land r/o Chequer Inn, Chequer Lane, Ash, CT3 2ET.
Update: 22nd June 2015
Whilst the appeal decision was final, it was possible to apply afresh for community asset status. For this to have any chance of success, a business plan/proposal had to accompany the application showing that the community could be in a position within the next 5 years to purchase and develop the Chequer Inn for community use, whether that be a public house or some other community focused enterprise. Local groups that could do this, or wished to gather support for a community project for the Chequer Inn, were asked to contact a parish councillor.
The listing and delisting information (with reasons) for the Chequer Inn were published by DDC. It was noted that Wingham Parish Council had succeeded in May with having the Red Lion Inn listed as a community asset. It was not the last pub in Wingham village. Their application included a business proposition from a local community group and “satisfied the test set out in section 88(2)(b) of the Act, in that it is realistic to think that there is a time in the next five years when there could be a non-ancillary use of the building or other land that would further (whether or not in the same way as before) the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community”.
Update: 20th March 2015
The Parish Council received advice from Dover District Council that the owner of the Chequer Inn had successfully appealed the listing of the Chequer Inn, and this was now no longer to be registered on DDC’s list of Community Assets.
The appeal process included a hearing to which Ash Parish Council was not invited nor was made aware of it took place. This was in accordance with the law. The ruling states the decision is final and no further appeal is possible.
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On 9th January, 2015 Dover District Council advised Ash Parish Council that the Chequer Inn, in the centre of Ash village, had been listed as a Community Asset. Information about Assets of Community Value and the listing itself is on the DDC website.
What did this mean?
Essentially the Community Asset status, which lasts for 5 years, provides for the community to have some preferential options, similar to a first refusal on the property, for a finite period, should it be placed on the market for sale.
The owner of the Chequer Inn must notify DDC when they intend to dispose of it. This is when the opportunity for the community to purchase the asset can be set in motion. The sale itself would take place under normal market conditions, and at a fair market price.
A purchase of the property at the market price might be funded by various means including an interest bearing public works loan, a loan from a community Trust, a community shares scheme whereby a number of people each contribute a sum of £s.
Note there are defined time constraints that will affect whether a community purchase of the property might be successful.
1/ Community groups have six weeks following a notice of disposal to apply to be treated as potential bidders.
2. If a written intention to bid is received within the six weeks, the group will be given six months to raise the finance and prepare a bid to purchase the asset before it goes on the open market.
Be aware, whilst the community group is given an opportunity to submit a bid, the owner is not bound to accept it.
In the latter part of 2014, the Chequer Inn was on the market for sale, offered as a residence subject to planning permission but was subsequently withdrawn from active marketing. It is not known whether it will be offered for sale again, and if so, when. It is advisable to be prepared for this eventuality given the bidding time frames outlined by DDC.
If you have ideas for utilising the Chequer Inn as a community asset, and would like to discuss these ideas with other like minded persons, please contact the parish clerk who, with your permission, will put you in touch with others who have also left their contact details. In this way the parish council hopes to facilitate taking ideas for the Chequer Inn further. The clerk can be contacted by phone 01304 814 036 or by email email hidden; JavaScript is required,uk
NB: Any community bid proposal would require a commitment from the wider population to support the project, given it would be likely to have consequent impacts on the precept over a period of years. However this does not preclude a smaller consortium of persons with adequate financing taking on a project to restore the pub or convert it to some other type of business and/or venue that could play a central part in community life.
Act now
FACEBOOK – http://www.facebook.com/savethechequerinn – Click the LIKE button
WEB-SITE – The pledge form can be completed on-line at the web-site http://savethechequerinn.co.uk/register-my-interest/
TWITTER – @SaveChequerInn – Follow us!!?
To download a pledge form Click here
Since Chequer Inn campaigners won the battle to save their much-loved historic village pub from development into a private house, a lot of work has taken place behind the scenes in preparation for a community-owned venture. Earlier this year, local developers announced their intention to sell The Chequer Inn, Ash after Dover District Council listed it as an Asset of Community Value. The ChequerMates steering group was subsequently formed, heading up a community group intending to bid on the property so it can be restored back to a thriving freehold pub.
To keep the profile at the forefront of villagers minds, a pub-themed night was held in Ash Village Hall last Friday, organised by volunteers who are passionate about re-opening the pub for the benefit of the community. Nearly 200 pints of local ale were sold, supplied by Gadds and Ripple Steam Brewery, and a delicious hog roast cooked by Pigs & Bread Catering was enjoyed. The night was overwhelmingly popular, with over 150 people taking part in the festivities – including a pub quiz and entertainment. The evening proved that there is a huge market for the return of the family friendly, restaurant and pub which closed it’s doors over two years ago. Along with a coffee morning held the week before, £725 was raised – this will be used towards campaign costs over the next few months.
One of the main aims of the evening was to announce the formation of The Chequer Inn Ash Society – a new Community Benefit Society which will get funding from grants, loans, donations and a community share offer for the ownership scheme. The group have been very busy over the last few months, and have now been lucky enough to receive a £2,500 bursary award from the The Plunkett Foundation’s More Than A Pub scheme – which is funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government and The Power to Change Trust – to help with professional advice and services to enable the Society to purchase the pub.
Since a guide price was issued by the owners’ solicitors earlier this year, the Society have been desperately trying to access the property to gauge the costs of renovation and to have an independent survey conducted. So far, all attempts at gaining access to the property have been unsuccessful.
The primary objective of the Society is to run The Chequer Inn for the benefit of the community. The more people who are able to pledge a donation or buy shares, and the wider the section of the community that is involved in the project, the greater the likelihood of success. Due to the paperwork associated with the financial bodies involved, the Society are not yet able to launch a formal share offer, so at present they are asking for pledges to help gauge the level of support. Tens of thousands have already been pledged and, once the goal is met, the Society will make a formal offer to the owner.
This is not just about buying a pub, it is about helping to sustain a community. Anyone who believes in village pubs and community ventures should show their support by pledging; invest in the future of the community and ensure that the community hub is run for the good of everyone.
For further information, and to get a pledge form, you can email email hidden; JavaScript is required or phone David or Jane on 01304 813010 for further information.
Many thanks to all who have already filled in our pledge form at the pub night. We have since collected several tens of thousands of pounds of pledges of £100 shares to help the community purchase The Chequer Inn, but need to continue to show the full support of the village.
To make the process easier, we have launched our new website which has an online form to enter your pledge details which are sent directly to our Treasurer and are confidential. Please visit www.savethechequerinn.co.uk for details – and also to view the video from the pub night!
We can’t stress enough how important it is to register your interest in The Chequer Inn Ash Society. No money changes hands at this stage and it does not constitute a commitment to invest. More financial information and a formal share offer will be provided in due course.
We are currently in the final stages of gaining full registration with the FCA after getting our £2500 bursary from the Plunket Foundation. After this we can officially launch our share scheme assisted by them.
Please visit the website, and watch this space for further information http://www.savethechequerinn.co.uk
FACEBOOK – http://www.facebook.com/savethechequerinn – Click the LIKE button
TWITTER – @SaveChequerInn – Follow us!!
