Friends launch bid to save The Chequers Inn pub in Petham near Canterbury before it is lost forever
06:00, 27 June 2021
A group of pals are hoping to buy a historic village pub as part of a last-ditch attempt to save it from being lost forever.
Locals Norman Clark, Scott Collins and Dane Henderson are planning to purchase Petham's The Chequers Inn, which closed two years ago.
The 19th Century tavern, five miles from Canterbury, is on the market for £590,000, while developers await the result of their appeal against a decision to snub plans to convert it into a home.
The trio, all of whom are parish councillors, want to raise at least £250,000 from residents to be eligible to apply for government funding to cover the rest of the freehold’s price.
“The loss of the pub had a profound impact on the village. There has been a bit of a hole in the community,” Mr Clark explained.
“Petham is a small village and the pub was a hub where everyone could get together, have a drink and talk.
“At the moment, we don’t have that. We want something for the village.”
Mr Clark says he and his mates's plan for the pub include a shop – which would become the village’s sole retailer – and an internet café, offering people a break from the monotony of working from home.
Those willing to part with their cash to help the friends buy the site will each be given a share in the business, along with a discount on food and drinks.
Shareholders will then decide on the makeup of the committee appointed to run the inn.
Mr Clark says the pub’s chef and manager will initially be the only paid members of staff, as he hopes a team of volunteers will help serve customers.
“We’ve told the owners we’re interested in The Chequers Inn, and they said they’re open to talk to us,” he added.
“It’s a very exciting plan to get the pub back. Most of the village wants this."
"We have sent out a survey to the village asking them what they’d want out of it. Of the replies, 80% said they’d invest in it.
“It’s a very exciting plan to get the pub back. Most of the village wants this.
“We’ve had no-one come back yet and say it shouldn’t happen.”
Messrs Clark, Collins and Henderson want to submit a bid for cash for the Community Ownership Fund.
The scheme offers up to £250,000 of matched funding to help groups take over community assets at risk of being lost.
The first round of bidding is expected to open this month.
