Villagers plan to run their own pub (From Daily Echo)
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Sway villagers want to buy and run the Forest Heath Hotel
8:45am Wednesday 27th October 2010 in News
By Chris Yandell, Chief Reporter, New Forest
The Forest Heath Hotel
VILLAGERS hit by the closure of their local pub have unveiled plans to buy the building and run it themselves.
The Forest Heath Hotel in Station Road, Sway, has been empty and boarded up since it was shut by Admiral Taverns more than a year ago.
A developer has recently submitted an application to turn it into a block of flats.
But residents have hatched a plan to buy the Grade II listed building and turn it into a community pub, with investors owning a share in the business.
More details will emerge at a public meeting being held in the village tonight.
Residents will hear from members of the newly formed Friends of the Forest Heath Hotel, an action group formed in a bid to save the popular watering hole.
Chairman Ted Watts said it would be a tragedy for Sway if planners allowed the pub to be used for housing.
He added: "The would-be developers claim that the business was not viable. But when the Heath closed the world was staring into the abyss of a recession that all the pundits said would be the worst since the 1930s. Despite this the pub was not making a loss.
"We believe the former owners did not try hard enough to sell the Heath as a going concern."
Sway resident Mark Parker has devised a business plan which, according to the group, shows that the Heath could be operated successfully as a community pub.
Under the plan villagers would put up the capital to buy and repair the Heath and recruit a manager.
Mr Watts added: "As a community pub the Heath would offer true community activities. The management team would consult the community on which activities to host."
However, campaigners must persuade the building's new owners, David and Denise Stevenson, to sell the property.
The couple have asked the National Park Authority for planning permission to convert the three-storey complex into six flats and a shop.
Mrs Stevenson has been reported as saying that the pub was unsuccessful, largely as a result of drink-driving laws, the smoking ban and shops selling cheap alcohol.
"Realistically the only way to bring life back into the building is to restore it with flats and a commercial aspect," she said.
(BLOB) The public meeting will be held in the village hall in Middle Road, Sway, at 7.30pm.
Comments(30)
Victorian Principles
says...
9:11am Wed 27 Oct 10
Saint-Scooby
says...
9:23am Wed 27 Oct 10
Ozmosis
says...
9:26am Wed 27 Oct 10
Victorian Principles
says...
9:28am Wed 27 Oct 10
Saint-Scooby wrote:They plan to buy it. By definition, it would be a freehold.
Its a good idea, just make sure its a freehold..
Ferngully
says...
9:44am Wed 27 Oct 10
Linesman
says...
9:45am Wed 27 Oct 10
Victorian Principles wrote:You can also buy a lease.
Saint-Scooby wrote: Its a good idea, just make sure its a freehold..They plan to buy it. By definition, it would be a freehold.
Ferngully
says...
10:26am Wed 27 Oct 10
Linesman wrote:Lets all be picky .... You can buy the freehold and then lease it out ....
Victorian Principles wrote:You can also buy a lease.Saint-Scooby wrote: Its a good idea, just make sure its a freehold..They plan to buy it. By definition, it would be a freehold.
What Saint-Scooby probably meant is that by owning a freehold pub you have more trading power and therefore more profit margin. Unlike leasehold pubs in the hands of greedy breweries and tied into buying their products as well as paying extortionate rent.
Linesman
says...
10:30am Wed 27 Oct 10
Ferngully wrote:OK! If you insist that we are picky.
Linesman wrote:Lets all be picky .... You can buy the freehold and then lease it out .... What Saint-Scooby probably meant is that by owning a freehold pub you have more trading power and therefore more profit margin. Unlike leasehold pubs in the hands of greedy breweries and tied into buying their products as well as paying extortionate rent.Victorian Principles wrote:You can also buy a lease.Saint-Scooby wrote: Its a good idea, just make sure its a freehold..They plan to buy it. By definition, it would be a freehold.
If the owners were not a brewery, and the locals bought the lease, then they would not be restricted as to which beer they sold.
Ferngully
says...
10:34am Wed 27 Oct 10
What Saint-Scooby probably meant is that by owning a freehold pub you have more trading power and therefore more profit margin. Unlike leasehold pubs in the hands of greedy breweries and tied into buying their products as well as paying extortionate rent.
EarlyRiser
says...
10:37am Wed 27 Oct 10
Ferngully
says...
10:40am Wed 27 Oct 10
EarlyRiser wrote:Correct
I suspect he means a Freehouse, not freehold. meaning they can sell whatever beer they want and buy it wherever they want at at about £90 a keg instead of from someone like Greeneking at about £140 a keg
Victorian Principles
says...
10:46am Wed 27 Oct 10
Linesman wrote:You can indeed. But the story quite plainly states they intend to buy the pub.
Victorian Principles wrote:You can also buy a lease.
Saint-Scooby wrote: Its a good idea, just make sure its a freehold..They plan to buy it. By definition, it would be a freehold.
Ferngully
says...
10:50am Wed 27 Oct 10
Victorian Principles wrote:Correct
Linesman wrote:You can indeed. But the story quite plainly states they intend to buy the pub.Victorian Principles wrote:You can also buy a lease.Saint-Scooby wrote: Its a good idea, just make sure its a freehold..They plan to buy it. By definition, it would be a freehold.
Linesman
says...
10:53am Wed 27 Oct 10
Ferngully wrote:People also say that they have bought a flat!
Victorian Principles wrote:CorrectLinesman wrote:You can indeed. But the story quite plainly states they intend to buy the pub.Victorian Principles wrote:You can also buy a lease.Saint-Scooby wrote: Its a good idea, just make sure its a freehold..They plan to buy it. By definition, it would be a freehold.
Victorian Principles
says...
12:04pm Wed 27 Oct 10
Linesman wrote:And? They're not putting together a business plan. You can also bet that the ambiguity is ironed out when they apply for a mortgage.
Ferngully wrote:People also say that they have bought a flat!
Victorian Principles wrote:CorrectLinesman wrote:You can indeed. But the story quite plainly states they intend to buy the pub.Victorian Principles wrote:You can also buy a lease.Saint-Scooby wrote: Its a good idea, just make sure its a freehold..They plan to buy it. By definition, it would be a freehold.
Family Bloke
says...
2:41pm Wed 27 Oct 10
Linesman wrote:Would the flat be freehold or leasehold?
Ferngully wrote:People also say that they have bought a flat!
Victorian Principles wrote:CorrectLinesman wrote:You can indeed. But the story quite plainly states they intend to buy the pub.Victorian Principles wrote:You can also buy a lease.Saint-Scooby wrote: Its a good idea, just make sure its a freehold..They plan to buy it. By definition, it would be a freehold.
GoodnessGraciousMe
says...
2:59pm Wed 27 Oct 10
derek james wrote:I don't know - how many?
good luck to them, nice to see developers lose out for a change, how many listed buildings have mysteriously caught fire when developers have had their proposals turned down? scum of the earth
Victorian Principles
says...
5:31pm Wed 27 Oct 10
Family Bloke wrote:Yes
Linesman wrote:Would the flat be freehold or leasehold?
Ferngully wrote:People also say that they have bought a flat!
Victorian Principles wrote:CorrectLinesman wrote:You can indeed. But the story quite plainly states they intend to buy the pub.Victorian Principles wrote:You can also buy a lease.Saint-Scooby wrote: Its a good idea, just make sure its a freehold..They plan to buy it. By definition, it would be a freehold.
Ferngully
says...
6:30pm Wed 27 Oct 10
Victorian Principles wrote:They will try to buy the freehold, I'll put my house on it. When it does reopen I hope the beer is not flat.
Family Bloke wrote:YesLinesman wrote:Would the flat be freehold or leasehold?Ferngully wrote:People also say that they have bought a flat!Victorian Principles wrote:CorrectLinesman wrote:You can indeed. But the story quite plainly states they intend to buy the pub.Victorian Principles wrote:You can also buy a lease.Saint-Scooby wrote: Its a good idea, just make sure its a freehold..They plan to buy it. By definition, it would be a freehold.
Linesman
says...
7:34pm Wed 27 Oct 10
Family Bloke wrote:A flat is contained within a block containing a number of flats.
Linesman wrote:Would the flat be freehold or leasehold?Ferngully wrote:People also say that they have bought a flat!Victorian Principles wrote:CorrectLinesman wrote:You can indeed. But the story quite plainly states they intend to buy the pub.Victorian Principles wrote:You can also buy a lease.Saint-Scooby wrote: Its a good idea, just make sure its a freehold..They plan to buy it. By definition, it would be a freehold.
The person/company/counc
il that owns the block and is responsible for the common charges and exterior maintenance, owns the freehold.
Ferngully
says...
8:04pm Wed 27 Oct 10
Linesman wrote:However it is possible to have a freehold flat isn't it ,,, did you ever make referee ?
Family Bloke wrote:A flat is contained within a block containing a number of flats. The person/company/counc il that owns the block and is responsible for the common charges and exterior maintenance, owns the freehold.Linesman wrote:Would the flat be freehold or leasehold?Ferngully wrote:People also say that they have bought a flat!Victorian Principles wrote:CorrectLinesman wrote:You can indeed. But the story quite plainly states they intend to buy the pub.Victorian Principles wrote:You can also buy a lease.Saint-Scooby wrote: Its a good idea, just make sure its a freehold..They plan to buy it. By definition, it would be a freehold.
jimbobbo
says...
9:53pm Wed 27 Oct 10
Ferngully wrote:Yes it is. In some cases, houses converted into flats are freehold (well at least one of them is). They are fairly uncommon and most mortgage lenders won't touch them. Not to be confused with a block of flats where the tenants own the land and place it on a shared lease. Or something.
Linesman wrote:However it is possible to have a freehold flat isn't it ,,, did you ever make referee ?
Family Bloke wrote:A flat is contained within a block containing a number of flats. The person/company/counc il that owns the block and is responsible for the common charges and exterior maintenance, owns the freehold.Linesman wrote:Would the flat be freehold or leasehold?Ferngully wrote:People also say that they have bought a flat!Victorian Principles wrote:CorrectLinesman wrote:You can indeed. But the story quite plainly states they intend to buy the pub.Victorian Principles wrote:You can also buy a lease.Saint-Scooby wrote: Its a good idea, just make sure its a freehold..They plan to buy it. By definition, it would be a freehold.
Get it right
says...
10:33pm Wed 27 Oct 10
Linesman
says...
10:55pm Wed 27 Oct 10
Ferngully wrote:I fail to see how. The flats may be individual flats, but they are interdependent.
Linesman wrote:However it is possible to have a freehold flat isn't it ,,, did you ever make referee ?Family Bloke wrote:A flat is contained within a block containing a number of flats. The person/company/counc il that owns the block and is responsible for the common charges and exterior maintenance, owns the freehold.Linesman wrote:Would the flat be freehold or leasehold?Ferngully wrote:People also say that they have bought a flat!Victorian Principles wrote:CorrectLinesman wrote:You can indeed. But the story quite plainly states they intend to buy the pub.Victorian Principles wrote:You can also buy a lease.Saint-Scooby wrote: Its a good idea, just make sure its a freehold..They plan to buy it. By definition, it would be a freehold.
jimbobbo
says...
8:46am Thu 28 Oct 10
Linesman wrote:read my comment above
Ferngully wrote:I fail to see how. The flats may be individual flats, but they are interdependent.
Linesman wrote:However it is possible to have a freehold flat isn't it ,,, did you ever make referee ?Family Bloke wrote:A flat is contained within a block containing a number of flats. The person/company/counc il that owns the block and is responsible for the common charges and exterior maintenance, owns the freehold.Linesman wrote:Would the flat be freehold or leasehold?Ferngully wrote:People also say that they have bought a flat!Victorian Principles wrote:CorrectLinesman wrote:You can indeed. But the story quite plainly states they intend to buy the pub.Victorian Principles wrote:You can also buy a lease.Saint-Scooby wrote: Its a good idea, just make sure its a freehold..They plan to buy it. By definition, it would be a freehold.
Victorian Principles
says...
9:10am Thu 28 Oct 10
Linesman wrote:Makes no odds. I've known people to own the freehold to their flat. Yes, they did really mean "own" and "freehold". You can argue til you're blue in the face that this makes no sense to you, but it won't change the fact that it does indeed happen.
Ferngully wrote:I fail to see how. The flats may be individual flats, but they are interdependent.
Linesman wrote:However it is possible to have a freehold flat isn't it ,,, did you ever make referee ?Family Bloke wrote:A flat is contained within a block containing a number of flats. The person/company/counc il that owns the block and is responsible for the common charges and exterior maintenance, owns the freehold.Linesman wrote:Would the flat be freehold or leasehold?Ferngully wrote:People also say that they have bought a flat!Victorian Principles wrote:CorrectLinesman wrote:You can indeed. But the story quite plainly states they intend to buy the pub.Victorian Principles wrote:You can also buy a lease.Saint-Scooby wrote: Its a good idea, just make sure its a freehold..They plan to buy it. By definition, it would be a freehold.
EarlyRiser
says...
10:46am Thu 28 Oct 10
Victorian Principles wrote:Nothing to say, just wanted to see how long we can make this look all rather artistic I think !!!!!!!!!
Linesman wrote:Makes no odds. I've known people to own the freehold to their flat. Yes, they did really mean "own" and "freehold". You can argue til you're blue in the face that this makes no sense to you, but it won't change the fact that it does indeed happen.Ferngully wrote:I fail to see how. The flats may be individual flats, but they are interdependent.Linesman wrote:However it is possible to have a freehold flat isn't it ,,, did you ever make referee ?Family Bloke wrote:A flat is contained within a block containing a number of flats. The person/company/counc il that owns the block and is responsible for the common charges and exterior maintenance, owns the freehold.Linesman wrote:Would the flat be freehold or leasehold?Ferngully wrote:People also say that they have bought a flat!Victorian Principles wrote:CorrectLinesman wrote:You can indeed. But the story quite plainly states they intend to buy the pub.Victorian Principles wrote:You can also buy a lease.Saint-Scooby wrote: Its a good idea, just make sure its a freehold..They plan to buy it. By definition, it would be a freehold.
wilson castaway
says...
12:16pm Thu 28 Oct 10
Linesman
says...
2:37pm Thu 28 Oct 10
Victorian Principles wrote:Perhaps you would care to identify the block of flats where this 'freehold flat' is located.
Linesman wrote:Makes no odds. I've known people to own the freehold to their flat. Yes, they did really mean "own" and "freehold". You can argue til you're blue in the face that this makes no sense to you, but it won't change the fact that it does indeed happen.Ferngully wrote:I fail to see how. The flats may be individual flats, but they are interdependent.Linesman wrote:However it is possible to have a freehold flat isn't it ,,, did you ever make referee ?Family Bloke wrote:A flat is contained within a block containing a number of flats. The person/company/counc il that owns the block and is responsible for the common charges and exterior maintenance, owns the freehold.Linesman wrote:Would the flat be freehold or leasehold?Ferngully wrote:People also say that they have bought a flat!Victorian Principles wrote:CorrectLinesman wrote:You can indeed. But the story quite plainly states they intend to buy the pub.Victorian Principles wrote:You can also buy a lease.Saint-Scooby wrote: Its a good idea, just make sure its a freehold..They plan to buy it. By definition, it would be a freehold.
derek james says...
8:54am Wed 27 Oct 10