Hebden Bridge Web

Fox and Goose: Temporary closure of Fox & Goose pending community buy-out

Tuesday, 10 September 2013

Hebden Bridge’s historic Fox and Goose pub has been temporarily closed, pending a buyout by the local community.

Regulars, pub fans and local people have raised £130,000 through a community share offer to buy the Fox and Goose, in Heptonstall Road, and to run it as West Yorkshire’s first co-operative pub.

Landlady Julia Warren came up with the idea of a community-owned pub when she realised her ill-health would soon make it impossible for her to carry on running the Fox. On Friday last week, Julia officially wound up her business which meant that the pub has had to close for a brief period until it is in the ownership of the Industrial & Provident Society set up to buy it for the benefit of the community.

Councillor Dave Young who is a founding Director of the Society said: “This is not a set-back, but a necessary stage on the journey to the Fox becoming a co-operative pub. The Society will now be in a position to buy the pub from the Insolvency Practitioner at a realistic price, reflecting the current market value.

“The aim has always been to keep any closure period to a minimum and we’re now working hard to complete the purchase as quickly as we can. So please bear with us for just a little while longer and hopefully we’ll be all back together very soon, enjoying what will then be West Yorkshire’s first co-operative pub.”

Regulars held a farewell party for Julia last week, to thank her for all her hard work over the years in making the pub the community hub that it is, and for keeping the Fox and Goose up and running for as long as possible in such difficult circumstances.

During the closure, shareholders and regulars are being kept informed via email circulars or on the Fox and Goose Facebook page. Information will also be posted on the website www.foxandgoose.org