Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 1/40 - "W e need a Right to Buy, not to try"

"W e need a Right to Buy, not to try"

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 2/40 - About this publication

About this publication

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 3/40 - Contents

Contents

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 4/40 - Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 5/40 - need to learn new skills quickly � such …

need to learn new skills quickly � such as legal terminology, advocating for their community rights, community consultation, fundraising, applying for grants � all in order to save their local pub from being sold for development. The right support needs to be available for community leaders at the right time, throughout their journey to community ownership, Suggestions from community pub groups we consulted included peer mentoring and help with pre-project community consultations and capacity building. Across all UK nations there must be a commitment from organisations that offer support to community ownership projects, to make access to the support available more joined up and as easy as possible to find. The research calls for a greater commitment to collaboration and partnership amongst sector bodies, recognising that more grassroots engagement work with local voluntary and community organisations may be required in an urban setting.

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 6/40 - Methodology

Methodology

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 7/40 - Introduction

Introduction

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 8/40 - As the projects are fundamentally influe…

As the projects are fundamentally influenced by community consultation, it is not surprising that their activities directly address locally identified needs.

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 9/40 - 1

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 10/40 - 1.2 Geographical distribution

1.2 Geographical distribution

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 11/40 - KEY FACTS

KEY FACTS

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 12/40 - Legal structures

Legal structures

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 13/40 - 1.3 Community profiles

1.3 Community profiles

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 14/40 - project. This might seem to undermine th…

project. This might seem to undermine the locally rooted model of community ownership, but may be appropriate for pubs that serve a "community of interest" (such as live music fans) as well as residents within the local vicinity.

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 15/40 - house in the truest sense of the word. A…

house in the truest sense of the word. According to a report by Pub is the Hub, "well-run" pubs and inns are "returning to being the centre or hub of community life that they often played in the past. They are returning to host a more cultural and wider interpretation of hospitality which has meaning beyond the usual drinks, food or entertainment offering".5

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 16/40 - 2

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 17/40 - The motivation for the project may actua…

The motivation for the project may actually be finding a space within a community for social events, rather than being primarily focussed on a specific pub. Where other pubs or suitably sized premises are available, these may be considered as alternatives. An urban community "pub" does not necessarily have to end up being what is perceived as a traditional pub.

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 18/40 - The evolution of the model is something …

The evolution of the model is something we consider later in this report in Section 6, specifically reference the role of the high street and the potential for repurposing high street premises as community pub businesses.

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 19/40 - 3

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 20/40 - The sample size per region is still so s…

The sample size per region is still so small that it is difficult to say definitively whether there is a correlation between the location of a project and its success in reaching trading status. However it is interesting to note that despite 27 projects starting across the East and West Midlands, there are currently no urban pubs in existence here. Plunkett Foundation is currently seeking to address this through a programme of support with funding from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). In section 4.2, we consider whether higher levels of deprivation in the WMCA area is contributing to a lower uptake of the model. As a continuation of this research, there is an opportunity to implement the proposed recommendations from this research in the WMCA area and actively test the solutions seeking to address perceived barriers identified in this report.

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 21/40 - associated with this research, was the d…

associated with this research, was the difficulty of converting initial interest for a community buyout of a pub into effective community engagement to progress the project. When responding to a survey question about the biggest challenge facing their project, one community pub group responded that it was "Getting people involved and to come on the committee. [and then] Believing that we could actually get the pub back open and thriving again."

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 22/40 - 3.4 Community leadership and capacity

3.4 Community leadership and capacity

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 23/40 - interviews and workshops, and highlights…

interviews and workshops, and highlights the need for capital to be available quickly. More supportive funders, with a simpler application process would have potentially helped the group to access funding when it was needed most.

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 24/40 - events and support work for communicatio…

events and support work for communications. They also have access to advisers with specialist pub knowledge that is of benefit to individual groups. With both organisations also having a UK wide reach, their involvement in ongoing work will be important for the community pub sector.

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 25/40 - With the conclusion of More than a Pub i…

With the conclusion of More than a Pub in 2021,17 there is now no longer one single dedicated fund for support towards a community pub project � in England or anywhere else in the UK. Groups can however still benefit from loan finance from the More than a Pub lenders Cooperative and Community Finance and Key Fund. There are other social investors that are also available to support groups, but as has been identified earlier in the research the gap between purchase costs of an urban pub and what the community can afford to raise themselves could suggest that loan finance (or at least largescale loan finance) might not be a realistic option for many communities. Servicing the loan may be too much of a burden for some communities.

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 26/40 - INSIGHT: THE TOLLERTON FLYING CLUB, TOLL…

INSIGHT: THE TOLLERTON FLYING CLUB, TOLLERTON

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 27/40 - 4

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 28/40 - project. However, from the data availabl…

project. However, from the data available, the trading groups are on average more deprived relative to the non-start group. This may be a result of the prioritisation of support for lower IMD areas. The data appears to suggest that, where sufficient support is available, deprivation does not necessarily determine the outcome of a project.

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 29/40 - 4.2 Impact of deprivation on a projects …

4.2 Impact of deprivation on a projects success: lived experience of urban community pub groups

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 30/40 - The workshops highlighted the fact that …

The workshops highlighted the fact that all urban communities are different � there is no "one size fits all" approach. Although community groups from more deprived areas face similar obstacles to those in less deprived areas, their capacity to overcome these obstacles differs markedly. Deprivation does play a role in the success of the project, but in conjunction with other factors in ways that can be difficult to measure.

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 31/40 - 5 Policy landscape across the UK

5 Policy landscape across the UK

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 32/40 - further detail on changes to the Localis…

further detail on changes to the Localism Act that could benefit more community groups.

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 33/40 - 5.2 Scotland

5.2 Scotland

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 34/40 - 6 Evolution of the model

6 Evolution of the model

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 35/40 - although it does not prioritise applicat…

although it does not prioritise applications based on need or deprivation, and only offers match-funding. As we have seen earlier in this report, deprived urban communities raise less in community shares and will therefore benefit less from match funding.

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 36/40 - 7 Conclusions

7 Conclusions

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 37/40 - Plunketts expertise could then be utilis…

Plunketts expertise could then be utilised for the benefit of groups progressing a community pub project at a more formalised stage.

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 38/40 - 8 Recommendations

8 Recommendations

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 39/40 - Recommendations continued

Recommendations continued

Plunkett_Urban_Pubs.pdf - page 40/40 - About Plunkett Foundation

About Plunkett Foundation