Hi everyone,
UPDATE 07th June
We are incredibly humbled by the support to date and for reaching, and going above our target. Thank you so, so much.
We have been told by Crowdfunder that any campaign that was opened during the Covid-19 pandemic will remain open after the target date, this is to give the business as much chance as possible to reopen and people can still donate or buy items for sale through the funding page.
This is great news for us as ........ Unfortunately we are 'not out of the woods yet'.
At time of writing we are £100,000 in debt due to the forced closure of the pub. This is made up of outstanding bills and the loan. At the beginning of March we were a business trading successfully with no debt and a small trading capital.
The only support we have received so far is from you lovely people and our bank granting us a loan. We haven't received a single penny from Government towards the business or to the two business owners. The only help we have had is through the furlough system which everyone can apply for.
Many Many business owners have applied for the grants of £10k and £25k and are getting them DESPITE still trading. All because the criteria was that business had been affected by Covid-19 and your business rates are below £51k you can get the grant. Our rates are £60k so no grant for us. Completely unfair threshold and structure. Surely a business that has had to close and generate ZERO income for the last 11 weeks is more in need of the grant than one still trading. We know of one business that has received £330,000 in grants for its stores and continued to trade the whole time online.
If we can get the £25k grant and add this to your amazing support on here we would be able to cover our outstanding bills and reopen sometime in the future.
We are still campaigning for a grant and will continue until the bitter end.
Original text posted at time of launching:
As always, the safety and health of staff, customers, artists and all others is of the utmost importance, our focus now needs to be on protecting the future of the venue and doing our best to ensure staff welfare.
Like so many other small, independent businesses, we now face an unpredictable and potentially very grave future and we need your help.
Put simply: without support and action during these times, The Horn will NOT survive and its staff will be placed in a vulnerable financial position. We are taking advice from the government re financial help and will apply for a business loan when it goes live. BUT all of these measure will still fall short paying our existing outgoings and losses. Sadly, due to a rateable value above the threshold we did not receive the grant given to small businesses, other large bills have been deferred and will still be due if we can re-open, on top of the bills due at that point.
We have decided to launch this funding page to help support our staff and pay essential bills. All funds raised on this page will be used to support staff financially while trying to safeguard and protect the future of the venue.
With any luck, we can soften the blow of the forthcoming challenges for our staff, and keep ourselves afloat long enough for there to be a business and jobs for staff to return to.
At this point, while we understand that so many others are facing similarly uncertain times, and priority is your own families and helping those less fortunate in our local area, we are encouraging everyone in the community and beyond who is able to and and wants to play a part in safeguarding the future of The Horn, to please donate generously to this fund. In return we will be offering HORN-related items and other incentives for larger donations, should you be able to help.
IconicVinyl & HornPub T-shirt (below)
We appreciate your help and support in this unusual and unpredictable time, more than you’ll ever know.
All being well we will be welcoming you back at The Horn soon and we can party once more.
Please stay safe and well,
Lots of love everyone at The Horn
#saveourvenues T-shirt (above)
*IF THE HORN IS UNABLE TO RE-OPEN WE WILL REFUND ALL DONATIONS
** REWARDS WILL ONLY BE ISSUED IF THE HORN IS ABLE TO REOPEN