Save The Charlotte Despard!

Chris and I have had the incredible privilege of owning and running The Charlotte Despard for 11 years. Over the years we have come to know so many wonderful people from every walk of life imaginable and I want to say thank you:

Thank you for reading this.

Thank you for choosing to stop in here.

Thank you for sharing your lives with us.

Thank you for allowing us to be your community pub.

We feel genuinely lucky that we have become part of your lives. We have celebrated with you when you got engaged, and married, and pregnant! We commiserated with you when life has dealt you a bad hand. We are always there for our community - even if it's just offering a cup of tea and a hug (pre-Covid of course).  And I'm so incredibly proud that our community is truly global.

We are very honoured to be part of this community; and The Despard is about so much more than Legs, Chris and I. Small, independent pubs, brewers, restaurants, cafes, shops and creatives are at the beating heart of local communities everywhere. 

This isn't something that we find easy to say but in light of *gestures wildly at everything* I need to say it:

We really need your help.

We now find ourselves in total crisis. The money we had is gone and now we are on the verge of closing for good. We need to raise funds and we are relying on our community near and far. past, present, and future, to help us, if and where they can.

Covid-19 has decimated the hospitality industry and as a small, independent pub we have been hit hard. We have paid all of our bills on time, despite everything and now we find ourselves in a pretty desperate position. We just don't have any money left and we are faced with the very real prospect of shutting the doors for the last time.

What we need the money for:

First and foremost, we need help paying the rent and utilities. We are still closed until at least 2nd December (possibly longer, and definitely restricted).  We, like everyone else in our sector are waiting for the government to decide and implement their firm policy for December (and beyond). Any further easing of restrictions now pretty much guarantees that January will be harsh, with more government-mandated on-and-off shutdowns into Spring 2021.

We've used absolutely everything we had to keep afloat.

We have no real way of generating any extra substantial income. We have always prioritised paying what we owe, across the board; but we find ourselves facing the fact that this is the first time that we will miss a rent payment. Sadly, our landlord has refused to offer any sort of rent holiday, or reduction, so we need to find the money for the next few months.

Secondly, we stand the best chance of long-term survival if we reopen the kitchen. By serving food we can open-up the business to a wider customer base, and by including takeaway, we would access another revenue stream.

We're looking to raise £15,000 in order to stay afloat, and we're going all or nothing.  If we don't meet the target, no money will be taken from our supporters and our project won't be funded. 

We know this is a big ask and we are only doing this as it is necessary, or rather crucial, to our survival.

We understand that we are not the only ones struggling so if you're not able to help us financially, we would be really grateful if you could share this campaign as far and wide as you can, using the hashtag #savethedespard

For those that can help financially, whatever you pledge will be valued and go towards saving this place. We have put together a range of rewards for anyone who can back us. Please take a look at the rewards on offer and give whatever you can.

Thank you. From the bottom of our hearts.

Absolutely loads of love.

Amber & Chris & Legs xxx

And our pub of fabulous people - many of whom are pictured below, throughout the years....

#savethedespard