Community Co-operative

A different future for the "Local"?

The Old Crown is a little pub in a little Lakeland village - Hesket Newmarket, on the northern edge of the Lake District National Park, nestling in the Caldbeck fells. It is the only pub left in the village.

Behind the pub is a micro-brewery, Hesket Newmarket Brewery. When Jim & Liz Fearnley, who at one time owned the pub and started the brewery, decided to retire in 1999, a group of 57 villagers and supporters banded together to buy the Brewery and run it as a co-operative. It’s still there today, thriving and growing. Hesket Newmarket Brewery Video

When The Old Crown itself came onto the market in 2001, there were fears that it might fall into the hands of a major brewery or pub chain or that new owners of the pub might be persuaded to remove the Hesket Newmarket Brewery beers. In November 2002 Julian Ross, a shareholder in the Brewery, floated the idea of forming a second co-operative to buy the pub, with a view to safeguarding it and preserving its unique character – not to mention its position as a vital amenity for the village and wider community. The aim was also to safeguard the link between The Old Crown and Hesket Newmarket Brewery, so that regular visitors could sleep sound in the knowledge that their favourite pint would still be waiting for them whenever they called in.

125 customers eventually clubbed together to buy the pub, each chipping in £1500 to fund the purchase. The deal was completed on 21 August 2003. The Old Crown is believed to be Britain’s first – and so far only – co-operatively owned pub.

The Co-operative decided not to try and run the pub itself, but instead drafted in tenants – currently Keith & Edna Graham and their niece Joanne – to run it for them under a lease. Among other things, one of the conditions of the lease is that the tiny main bar must stock at least six Hesket Newmarket beers at all times.

The aim of the Co-operative was not to make money. Nonetheless, the model is proving successful and members have received dividends for the last four years. In addition, the Co-operative has built a new kitchen and dining room.
Essentially, though, while food is clearly important in any pub these days, The Old Crown remains first and foremost a pub that serves food, rather than a ‘country restaurant’ that serves beer. It’s a ‘proper’ pub – cosy, friendly, comfy – which you can go into whether you’re wearing your wellies or a suit, and which it’s almost impossible to leave without having had a conversation with someone. The way we all think pubs used to be, and probably wish they still were.

Julian Ross Chairman, The Old Crown Co-operative jamross@globalnet.co.uk

Update coming....

This article was created on Saturday, 26th December 2009.

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