Community shares
Capital at risk — please be aware of the risks associated with investing in community shares.
Grendon Underwood - Swan Pub Community Share Offer
Grendon Underwood, England, United Kingdom
Aim
We are selling community shares so that 'The Swan' pub can be bought & restored to provide a multi‐purpose community hub
NEWS JUST IN - TAX RELIEF AVAILABLE
The Society has now received Advanced Assurance from HMRC that investments in the Share Offer are eligible for Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR), for qualifying investors. This means that, subject to meeting the qualifying criteria, investors can reclaim 30% of their investment in shares (limited to £250,000 of overall relief).
NOTE: The Society is not responsible for claiming SITR on behalf of investors - this is done by the investor following a qualifying period and is subject to HMRC rules. Speak to an independent advisor if you require professional advice relating to investing and SITR.
THE BACKGROUND
The Swan, see Save Our Swan (S.O.S), is a fantastic local public house that has the potential to be a central hub for the community it serves. This beautiful thatched building was, for many years, a thriving business attracting regular visitors from Grendon Underwood, Edgcott, Kingswood and surrounding Chilterns villages (such as Waddesdon and Quainton), as well as serving the immediate local community. On many occasions you will find freely wandering peacocks in the main street and will ofter hear their distinctive calls. Legend has it that William Shakespeare dwelt in the village from time to time.
The Swan was pivotal in the lives of the few hundred families who live in the immediate vicinity and the many regulars who visited the premises from further away. It was their social club and meeting place. Over recent years the pub hosted a number of village events, notably a street party for the Queen’s birthday and Christmas Carols on an annual basis.
Currently closed and with the freehold available for sale, the pub lies at the centre of what was originally a small farming village community. Located near busy tourist attractions like Waddesdon Manor, Bicester Retail Village and beautiful Oxford, the pub is just off the A41 between Aylesbury and Bicester. Although there has been a recent period of under investment, which has resulted in the fabric of the pub deteriorating, the business continued to make a reasonable profit up to the point of its closure in May 2018. Since then, a group of local volunteers have received specialist advice from experienced advisers and confirmed the viability of the business as a community owned asset.
THE OPPORTUNITY
This share offer is intended to raise, along with grant funding, the funds needed to purchase the premises and re-open the pub as a new community hub.
To PURCHASE SHARES, please select the appropriate Reward button on the screen (for example 'SHARE Purchase (£100 and more'). When you choose a purchase button, you will be given the chance to top-up your purchase above the minimum by entering an extra amount in the 'Additional Donation' box. So if you want to spend £150 on shares, select the button and top-up by entering £50 - you will have purchased £100+£50 of shares = 6 shares). Each share costs £25.
There are a wide selection of buttons to make it easier to chose the amount you wish to invest.
If you would prefer to become a donor rather than an investor, you can use the DONOR buttons instead of the 'SHARE Purchase' buttons.
WHAT AM I INVESTING IN?
The new pub business is a Community Benefit Society where all shareholders have an equal say in how the pub is managed. By investing, you can become one of the owners of a local public house steeped in history that will be refurbished and relaunched as an exciting business 'by the community for the community'. This video helps explain:
Community owned pubs are very successful and the potential of The Swan, with revenue from refreshments, included meals, and potentially the letting of B&B rooms, is clear for all to see.
MORE DETAILS
Can be found at Save our Swan and the really important stuff is on the links below.
This project closed unsuccessfully on 7th November 2018