The suggestion to have communities own the next generation of pubs instead of distant shareholders has been put forward to government officials. During a recent visit to the Red Lion, the UK’s inaugural community-owned pub in Preston, Hitchin, Labour MP Alistair Strathern highlighted the success story of the pub’s rescue from conversion into a steakhouse chain back in 1983. Through individual shares purchased by community members, the pub was saved and has since flourished as an essential community hub.
Mr. Strathern praised the Red Lion as a prime example of a beloved local pub that has been preserved through community ownership. He emphasized Labour’s commitment to promoting community ownership nationwide to empower local groups to preserve significant establishments like pubs for their communities’ benefit.
The Community Right to Buy initiative grants priority to community groups in purchasing pubs when they become available, preventing private buyers from acquiring them for a year. The ongoing advocacy by The Mirror’s Your Pub Needs You campaign underscores the importance of supporting pubs as crucial community spaces, with the Co-operative Party advocating for community ownership to ensure their long-term sustainability.
According to Co-operative Party General Secretary Joe Fortune, community ownership plays a vital role in sustaining essential community spaces like the Red Lion, shifting control from profit-focused shareholders to local residents. Facilitating community ownership by removing obstacles can usher in a new era of sustainable business practices, where pubs are owned and operated by the community for the community.
Landlord Ray Lambe highlighted the positive impact of community ownership on the Red Lion, fostering a stronger sense of community spirit and incentivizing local residents to frequent the pub.