Community shares
Capital at risk — please be aware of the risks associated with investing in community shares.
The Rose & Thistle Reborn, Haddenham
Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
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Aim
To raise £750K to buy the iconic Rose & Thistle pub in Haddenham, refurbish it, and reopen it as an inclusive, vibrant community hub.
Stop it from being last orders at The Rose & Thistle!
The Rose & Thistle is an iconic pub in the heart of the conservation area of Haddenham, by the village green and opposite St Mary’s Church — a place that has hosted countless meals, celebrations, conversations and chance encounters over the years.
Tragically, Rose & Thistle closed in 2019 and, while the current owners had hoped to reopen, it is now for sale and at risk of being sold to developers and converted to a residential property. And once a pub is turned into a house, it’s almost impossible to bring it back.
We’re not here to be alarmist — but we are being honest: this is a time-limited opportunity. If we do nothing, we may lose the pub for good. We need your help to stop it from being last orders at The Rose & Thistle!
A Shared Vision and Mission
A group of Haddenham residents have come together with a shared vision:
To save the Rose & Thistle and see it reborn as a vibrant, inclusive community hub; a place where everyone comes together to forge friendships over food and drink.
Our mission is to:
- create a family friendly social space for our village, where people of all ages feel at home
- ensure community ownership and involvement, so the community have a say in what kind of pub they want, and this pub remains vital to the village for generations to come.
- champion local produce and suppliers, supporting our region’s farmers, brewers and artisans.
Team Rose & Thistle Reborn
The team comes from a broad section of the village community and represent a range of specialist skills. We have experience of setting up a community business, having turned Blooming Fruity into Haddenham’s successful community greengrocer.
What Haddenham Needs
Haddenham is rated as one of the best places to live in the country, known for its rich history and good quality of life. Haddenham had a population of 5,725 in the 2021 Census, with the Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan 2011-2033 designating growth that will take the village to over 7,000.
This new development has not included sufficient investment in the community infrastructure that current residents and new families moving into the village need. At the same time, we’re losing amenities. The two other pubs in the conservation area have closed and been turned into houses. Our last restaurant – the Indian – closed last year, as did the village’s last butchers.
We want the Rose & Thistle to complement, and not compete with, the two surviving pubs in the village, building on Haddenham’s strong track record of community ownership. We received hundreds of responses to our survey last summer about what Haddenham needs in a community pub. That research suggests there is demand for something different in Haddenham and the continued growth in the village suggests the market can sustain three different pub offerings.
Our Unique Selling Points
The Rose & Thistle will set itself apart by uniquely offering:
- Restaurant quality food, including a Sunday Roast, by a warm and welcoming fire;
- A leafy, walled beer garden with a secure children’s play area;
- A function room for community and private hire;
- Prime location in the heart of the Conservation Area with proximity to countryside walking routes; and
- A dedicated car park, enabling the Rose & Thistle to be a destination pub, as well as a community space.
The pub also includes a flat for use by a future tenant or manager, and a studio space for short term lets, offering opportunities for further income generation.
Support So Far
We’ve been overwhelmed by the support from the people of Haddenham so far to save the Rose & Thistle. Our initial crowd funder, to build our fighting fund, exceeded our target in less than a fortnight; our first fundraiser was a sell out with 170 people attending; and hundreds of people have signed up to our newsletter and are following us on social media.
We have the support of the establishment and the industry.
Local MP and Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Beer, Greg Smith MP said:
“Pubs are an essential backbone of rural life, not least in villages like Haddenham. Pubs aren’t just somewhere to enjoy a pint, glass of wine or some good old fashioned pub grub, but are the beating heart of countryside communities. Village pubs are people places, where everyone can come together, particularly those living alone who would otherwise be isolated at home. That’s why I am pleased to back the Rose & Thistle Reborn campaign in Haddenham and hope we can bring this great village pub back to life to serve Haddenham once more.”
CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association, Emma McClarkin OBE said:
“Pubs sit at the heart of the community, providing a welcoming space for people to come together and stave off loneliness.
“A busy and successful pub boosts the local economy, creates jobs and supports supply chains from grain to glass.
“That’s why I’m delighted to see local groups, like the Rose & Thistle Reborn in Haddenham, recognising the importance of the pub and pulling together to stop last orders at their village pub and preserve it as a community hub for generations to come.”
Haddenham Community Public House Limited (HCPH)
The Rose & Thistle Reborn Team has formed a Community Benefit Society (CBS) called Haddenham Community Public House Limited (HCPH).
Key features of a Community Benefit Society include:
- Community Focus: we must operate primarily for the benefit of the wider community, not just our members.
- Democratic Control: we are governed by "one member, one vote," ensuring equality, regardless of shares held.
- Asset Lock: our assets are legally locked in to be used for the community, (mandatory for CBSs).
- Profit Use: our profits are reinvested into the society's objectives or used for community benefit, not distributed as dividends to members (though payment of a modest level of interest on shares is allowed).
- Registration: we are registered with the FCA as a type of Registered Society.
Becoming an Owner of The Rose & Thistle
When you invest in community shares, you’ll become a member of our society with voting rights, giving you a say in how things are done. You’ll also become an owner of the society's assets alongside other members, meaning you become a co-owner of The Rose & Thistle!
Shares will be £1 each with a minimum investment of £100 and a maximum of £100,000 per person.
We have produced a full prospectus to support the pledge. Investors can look forward to:
- Supporting a business that directly benefits the community through jobs, events, and essential services;
- Receiving interest payments in proportion to the number of community shares bought, which, in time, could reach as much as 5%;
- Benefiting from built-in customer loyalty and members’ local insights, ensuring the business is resilient and adaptable; and
- Saving an iconic pub in the heart of Haddenham, reversing local decline and attracting further investment into the village.
The Business Case
The evidence shows that a community business is the right model to secure a resilient, adaptable and, ultimately, successful pub. Although still a relatively young sector, community pubs have over a 99% survival rate. This compares extremely positively with other UK businesses that have an estimated five-year survival rate of 41% In fact, it's one of the best business survival rates anywhere in the world.
In our area, there are several community-owned pubs already up and running; The Seven Stars in Dinton, The Ash Tree in Ashendon, The Russell Arms in Butlers Cross, and The Boot in Bledlow Ridge. We've spoken to them about their experiences and benefited from their lessons learned. With their help, alongside the Plunkett Foundation, (a charity who specialise in preventing the closure of rural businesses, assisting communities to buy and run assets which are important to them), we have developed a robust business plan which has been thoroughly checked by the financial experts on our team. We have also been given advice by an independent brewer and other local publicans who are keen to see the Rose & Thistle open and thrive.
The Tenant Model
Based on expert advice and our own research we have concluded that a ‘tenant model’ is the most appropriate operating model for The Rose & Thistle.
Selecting the right tenant will be critical in ensuring the success and long-term future of the pub. As part of the selection process, each prospective tenant’s Business Plan, their view of what the pub will offer its customers and their plans for its marketing, and the ongoing development of the pub will be closely examined.
The rent for the pub and accommodation (if they wish, otherwise this could generate income as a short term let) will be set at a fair level, which will rise annually in line with the growth of the business. This will give the tenants a good base from which to develop a great business.
The community will have control over how the property is managed and improved. One of the criteria for selection of a tenant will be their willingness to provide for our community needs. A member of the Management Committee will be assigned to meet with the tenant once a quarter to review their business progress and mutually address any issues.
Levels of Investment
£100
COOL! - 100 shares in the Rose & Thistle and your name on the wall of the pub.
£500
GREAT! 500 shares in the Rose & Thistle, your name on the wall of the pub, and an Exclusive Rose & Thistle Reborn Pint Glass.
£1000
FANTASTIC! 1000 shares in the Rose & Thistle, your name on the wall of the pub, an Exclusive Rose & Thistle Reborn Pint Glass, and a pint on us at the pub.
£5000
AMAZING! 5000 shares in the Rose & Thistle, your name on the wall of the pub, a pair of exclusive Rose & Thistle Reborn Pint Glasses, and a bottle of wine on us at the pub.
£10000
MAGNIFICENT! 10000 shares in the Rose & Thistle, your name on the wall of the pub, a set of four exclusive Rose & Thistle Reborn Pint Glasses, and a meal for two on us at the pub.
£20000
AWESOME! 20000 shares in the Rose & Thistle, your name on the wall of the pub, a set of four exclusive Rose & Thistle Reborn Pint Glasses, and a meal for four on us at the pub.
£50000
FRIEND FOR LIFE! 50000 shares in the Rose & Thistle, your name on the wall of the pub, a set of four exclusive Rose & Thistle Reborn Pint Glasses, a meal for four and a bottle of wine on us at the pub, and a personalised bar stool at the pub.
£100000
YOU’RE OUR HERO! 100000 shares in the Rose & Thistle, your name on the wall of the pub, a set of four exclusive Rose & Thistle Reborn Pint Glasses, a meal for four and a bottle of champagne on us at the pub, and a personalised bar stool at the pub.
Note: One share of your purchase will be a voting membership share that is not withdrawable and will not pay interest. The rest of you shares may pay interest and be withdrawable subject to the terms in the prospectus.
What happens if we don't meet our target?
There are different scenarios regarding refurbishment of the premises, at different price points. Which of these comes to pass would depend on the amount raised.
If we don't meet our minimum target, Crowdfunder will hold any funds raised for a short time to allow us to look for other sources of funding that could make up any shortfall, for example grants, donations and benefactor loans. In parallel with the share offer we will continue to fundraise for our fighting fund to ensure that as much money as possible goes towards buying and renovating the pub.
If we cannot proceed with the project for any reason, then all money will be refunded to you in full.
Right now, we need your help!
This is our final chance to stop it being last orders at the Rose & Thistle. If like us you look forward to the day your family and friends can enjoy a get-together in this iconic pub, then please consider pledging to buy shares today!
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 9th July 2026 at 11:59pm