Fox and Goose: All hands to the pumps as pub prepares for community purchase

Tuesday, 11 March 2014

The community purchase of the Fox and Goose pub is expected to take place next week (week commencing Mon 17th) – and supporters are now being asked to take on a rather onerous task.

A community share offer raised £130,000 to save the Fox in Heptonstall Road, Hebden Bridge, and buy it as a co-operative pub.

Time will now have to be called on the Pop-up pub which has been run by loyal bar staff to keep the Fox open while the purchase formalities have been going on. That means all the beer bought to supply the temporary bar will have to be used up at the weekend.

After that, contracts will be exchanged and the Fox and Goose will officially become West Yorkshire's first co-operative pub.

Councillor Dave Young, a director of the Fox and Goose (Hebden Bridge) Ltd – the Society set up to buy and run the pub for the community – said: "This is incredibly exciting. After two years' hard work we are nearly there. Now we just have a few more important things to do.

"The first is to get down to the pub this weekend from Friday night onwards, and help to finish up the beer which the Pop-up Fox still has in stock. As they say, it's a tough job but someone has to do it!

"A word of warning though, once it's gone, it's gone – and the bar will close down as soon as the beer runs out – the staff have done a sterling job in keeping our beloved pub open and they deserve a break, so please come and help them out just as soon as you can make it."

Once the purchase has gone through, the slightly more serious job of refurbishing the pub will have to be done. The Directors are working to keep any closure to a minimum so have decided to carry out a 'DIY SOS' type make-over during the following week, aiming to relaunch as the co-operative pub on Saturday March 22.

This will involve a wash and brush-up, repainting, some new furniture and replacing the beer pumps. The plan is then to carry out the bigger refurbishments such as wiring and heating during closing hours where possible to minimise disruption to customers.

Dave added: "Once everyone's recovered from their hard work in drinking dry the pop-up bar, it would be great if anyone who is free could lend a hand with the clean-up during the course of the following week and help us to make sure the Fox is closed for the shortest time possible. It's a challenge, but we feel confident that with all hands to the pump we can do it!"

To help the team manage the work, anyone who is able to assist during the week commencing 17th March is asked put their name down with the staff at the Fox or notify the directors via email or Facebook.

A survey has been circulated online inviting shareholders to give their views on the improvements and how they want their pub to develop. The directors will be looking through the suggestions and will feed back as the work progresses.