Fox Friends back Co-operative Pub plans
Wednesday, 19 September 2012
Around 40 people attended a public meeting at the Fox and Goose in Hebden Bridge on Saturday, to discuss plans to turn it into West Yorkshire's first co-operative pub.
Fox Friends members at the public meeting at the Fox and Goose
The Fox Friends steering group, set up to investigate the viability of the co-operative, presented its findings - including a business plan, financial forecasts, information about the process of creating a co-operative organisation and on methods of running a community pub.
This was followed by a question-and-answer session, then Fox Friends members were invited to fill in a questionnaire about the future of the pub.
Those present at the meeting voted in favour of the steering group moving forward with the process of setting up the cooperative and working towards buying the pub. The steering group has allowed an extra week to fill in the questionnaires so that those members unable to attend the meeting can have their say on the various options.
This can be done by collecting a business plan and questionnaire from the Fox and Goose bar or online, by visiting the Fox Friends website. Completed forms (one form per member please) need to be returned by Saturday, September 22.
Steering Group Chairman Councillor Dave Young said, "It was great to see all the people who turned up to show how committed they are to saving this well-loved local pub, and we'd like to thank everyone once again for their continuing support. There was a very lively discussion after the presentation and people put forward some really interesting and useful ideas.
"We are aware that there are quite a few members who are very much involved with the project but couldn't make it along to the meeting and we'd also like to hear their points of view. So we're allowing people a little bit longer to return their questionnaires, in person or online." For further information visit the Fox Friends website, follow us on Facebook, or twitter @hebdenfox or simply speak to Trevor, Drew or Cayn at the Fox and Goose bar.
Fox Friends Public Meeting
Wednesday, 12 September 2012
A public meeting is being held on Saturday (September 15) to decide the way forward for the Fox and Goose Co-operative pub project. The meeting is being organised by the Fox Friends steering group, set up to look into the possibility of buying the Fox and Goose, in Hebden Bridge and turning it into West Yorkshire's first Co-operative pub.
The meeting will take place at the pub on Heptonstall Road, from 12noon, with the bar open from 11.30pm. Customers are welcome to take along their own packed lunch. There is free car parking just above the pub on Heptonstall Road. At the public meeting, the steering group will present its findings, facts and figures and a business plan, then outline the various options for a community-run pub.
Dave Hollins from Co-operative Mutual Solutions (CMS) will be a guest speaker and will be available to answer questions about the broader Co-operative movement now growing across the UK.
Chair of the Fox Friends Steering Group, Councillor Dave Young said: "This is a very important meeting which represents the culmination of all the research carried out by the steering group on behalf of the Fox Friends members. "We hope that as many people as possible will get along to the meeting so the whole community can input their views on the future of our well-loved local pub." For further information visit the Fox and Goose website, follow us on Facebook, or twitter @hebdenfox or simply speak to Trevor, Drew or Cayn at the Fox and Goose bar.
Background information The Fox and Goose is a traditional real ale pub in Heptonstall Road, Hebden Bridge. The owner Julia Warren is having to sell the pub because of her deteriorating health, Neither Julia nor the regulars and local community want to see the Fox and Goose swallowed up by a major chain, with the associated loss of its unique character – or even worse closed down with the building sold off for another use.
See also
Previously, on the HebWeb
HebWeb News - All aboard for the Fox Friends Beer Bus beano
HebWeb News: Fox Friends Drink to the Dirty Half Dozen (5 April 2012)
HebWeb News: Fox and Goose Pub Co-op
HebWeb Forum: Fox and Goose Pub Co-op (Jan-March 2012)