Slough, Windsor & Maidenhead

Campaign for Real Ale

Campaign for Real Ale

Ye Olde Red Lion

Thursday 26 April 2018

Ye Olde Red Lion has had a checkered history under Punch Taverns ownership from being a successful pub in the earlier 80's, before Punch owned it to becoming an Indian, Chinese and finally after nobody could make any money out it, back to being a pub under the stewardship of Marc Hunter, while Punch tried to sell it for property development.

Under the stewardship of Marc Hunter the Red Lion has once again become the heart and centre of Oakley Green’s community life. In an attempt to protect their pub against redevelopment the residents got together and listed their local as an Asset of Community Value with the Borough Council in 2016. It was just after this that our CAMRA branch became aware of the campaign and joined forces to find a way forward.

With the help of the RBWM Council, the Plunkett Foundation and CAMRA the residents decided that they wanted to form a co-operative or community interest group and initiate a share offer to buy the pub. On 2nd June 2016 Punch Taverns informed the Council that they intended entering into a ‘relevant disposal’ of the Red Lion. Because the pub was listed as an ACV the community group had 6 weeks to express an interest in buying the pub. During this six week period the property can not be sold except to a relevant community interest group. If the group does express an interest in this period a six month moratorium will come into effect.

Before the six week period expired on 14th July the Residents Association notified the Council that they intended to initiate a Community Right to Bid (CRTB). With the full support of Andrew Green (Community Partnership Officer), Michael Beaven (Our Community Enterprise) and their teams the CRTB was accepted under the terms of the 2011 Localism Act. In an attempt to apply pressure Punch Taverns served an Eviction Notice on Marc saying that the pub had been sold. This however was later found to be false. An email from Punch stated:

“Having rectified an error in internal communications, we can confirm that the Red Lion has not been sold and that the current publican will continue running the site for the foreseeable future.   We will be happy to talk to the local community when they are ready to begin discussions”.

On ‘Ye Olde Red Lion Regulars’ Facebook group page the following response was posted:

“We have the right to bid, we have the right to control our own community, the way we would like it to be and not delivered to us from on high. We thank Punch for their Volte-face and we thank all those countless people who have lent their support”.

Although Punch can not sell the pub during the 6 month moratorium, to any one other than the community group, at the end of the 6 month period they can sell the asset to whoever they wish and at any price. Unfortunately the community's bid failed to secure the purchase of the pub, and the 6 month moratorium ended. Punch were free to try and sell it again and they tried, but due to the grade 2 listing and the positioning of the property on the site Punch could not find a developer who was going to pay their ridiculous sale price, £875k.

Fast forward to today and Punch are getting desperate as the they only have until June 2018 to sell the Red Lion. After that date, if they want to sell, the ACV legislation kicks in again and the community can state it is interested in buying and the whole process kicks off again. Another 6 months of protection for the pub against Punch selling it.

last Friday Punch gave Marc Hunter was given 10 days notice of closure.

This is so sad for the pub and the community.

They have now launched a Facebook Action Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1648368178544530/?fref=nf