The call has been made for the upcoming era of pubs to be under the ownership of local communities rather than distant shareholders, according to ministers. Labour MP Alistair Strathern emphasized this point during a visit to the Red Lion in Preston, Hitchin, the UK’s first community-owned pub. Originally slated to be transformed into a steakhouse chain, the pub was rescued by the community in 1983 by raising the necessary funds through individual shares from community members.
Under community ownership ever since, the Red Lion now flourishes as a significant community hub. Praising the success of the pub, Mr. Strathern highlighted the importance of community ownership in its preservation and operation by those who cherish it the most.
Labour’s commitment to fostering community ownership nationwide aims to empower local groups to secure ownership of places that hold significant value to them. The Community Right to Buy initiative grants priority to community groups for purchasing pubs, blocking private buyers for a year.
Advocates from The Mirror’s Your Pub Needs You campaign and the Co-operative Party stress the importance of supporting pubs as crucial community spaces. They argue that community ownership not only saves these establishments but also ensures their longevity.
Joe Fortune, the General Secretary of the Co-operative Party, emphasized that community ownership breathes life into essential community spaces, empowering local residents rather than distant profit-driven investors. Removing barriers to community ownership is seen as a means to usher in a new era of responsible and community-driven business practices.
Speaking on the benefits of community ownership, landlord Ray Lambe noted how the ownership by the village fosters a strong community bond, encouraging more community engagement and support for the pub.