(24 March 2017) – 70 villages in the UK have bought their pubs by setting up community co-operatives. They then act as hubs for village life.
The number of pubs in Britain is falling by 2.7% a year, according to the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). But it is surprisingly easy to protect them by getting them recognised as Assets of Community Value.
The Plunkett Foundation, an organisation supporting community pubs and shops, advocates the co-operative approach. A co-operative pub is owned and controlled by a large number of people from within the community – typically around 200 people.
Pubs saved in this way are governed democratically on the basis that each member gets one vote, regardless of how much money they invested.