Standing in the heart of Bethersden, The George has for several decades been the social centre of the village.
Following the pub's closure in 2020, local residents have come together to form the George Community Ltd. The goal of our Community Benefit Society is to reopen, regenerate and protect this most precious asset for generations to come, with all profits redirected back into our community. We have support from our local MP, Ashford Borough Council, Bethersden Parish Council, Cooperatives UK and the Plunkett Foundation.
We have been successful in securing a grant from the Community Ownership Fund, and an equity investment from Cooperatives UK. But as a community, we need to contribute too for this to work.
The funding will help us;
1. Purchase and re-open the pub in the short term, helping reduce social isolation and getting our community back together post-Covid.
2. Promote social inclusion by widening the appeal of the pub and making it more accessible to all
3. Run an environmentally friendly pub including replacing the oil heating
4. Give the community a say in setting the direction and running of the pub
5. Be financially viable for the long term through expansion and modernisation
Through our community share offer, we are targeting raising £300,000. We know that there are those who don't wish to buy community shares or live further afield, but still want to contribute so the Crowdfunder is perfect - this is your chance!
Thank you for your support,
Robin, Jo, Roger, Michele & Alex.