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Residents Group
Guest
| | Posted on Monday, May 18, 2009 - 1:47 pm: |      |
THE WHITE SWAN PUB - A COMMUNITY CONSULTATION
It has come to our attention that there is considerable interest in retaining it as a Pub. Our small residents group would like to conduct this simple consultation to gauge public feelings. We encourage you to share your views and how you see its future. We, and it seems many others, are keen to do something, as the Pub looks in a a sad and sorry state now.
Across the UK there are many Community owned Stores and Pubs. It is a growing trend as many more rural facilities have closed down. They are being reopened as Community owned facilities, sometimes doubling up village facilities and meeting rooms. And of course we would need to consider the various business models for buying the premises. However, it is just conceivable that the Swan with the right will and hard work, and if supported by the Community, could become a thriving hub of the community again and act as a real focal point for Bosham. As far as we know there has been no planning application submitted.
We will explain more at the meeting, as well as look forward to hearing your views.
Please note the following:
1) Wed 20th May, 7-7.45pm Public Meeting in St. Nicholas Hall.
2) Forms have been distributed to every house in the Village:
Please be sure bring yours to the meeting or place it in one of the collection points at Stores the Village.
3) Keep coming back to this website for news and updates on the Campaign.
You are welcome to post your views/ comments in the box at the bottom of this page.
Many thanks,
Chaloner Chute, Patsy West & Richard Tully
Reminder - Please bring your replies to the Meeting OR drop them in the various collecting boxes around the stores.
CAMRA website - examples of community involvement in Local Pubs.
(CAMRA = Campaign for Real Ale)
Our homepage |
Pete
Guest
| | Posted on Monday, May 18, 2009 - 4:14 pm: | |
I like the idea of a Community owned Pub but I am worried there is not enough parking.
Where will the money come from to buy it? |
Tony Black
Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 12
Registered: 3-2009
| | Posted on Monday, May 18, 2009 - 4:37 pm: | |
Hello Pete, I believe the idea is to sell 1,000 shares at £450 each.
If the Residents Group could just get 500 locals to come up with £900 each (2 shares - or 250 people at £1800 etc.) that could be enough to buy and renovate the Pub into something nice for all of us. I know that a Business plan is currently being formulated and of course it all depends on raising the funds first. I like the idea too. But also, as an ex hotel manager / restaurant owner I think this venture has very real possibilities to offer a good commercial return to investors. So, it's not just semantics it's good biz too!
Tony. |
anon
Guest
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - 4:03 pm: | |
I have lived in north Bosham for several years and I hated the Swan as it was always full of yobs and fights. I went there once but never again. What we need is a nice family pub with good food. I'm sorry to say it but I dont think you stand a chance of getting 1000 people. Maybe you should think about getting 10? |
Peter Horrocks
Guest
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - 6:47 pm: | |
i whole heartedly support the idea to revamp the pub.It is a much needed watering hole and meeting place for the village, and for those from outside the area who enjoy a drink before visiting the indian resturant. It does however req to be run as a family pub providing food and catering for the good people of the village and keeping the yobs out. Steve who ran the pub for many years had a well balanced clientele and very little trouble. lets see The White Swan put back on the map and not cast as The Ugly Duckling. |
Tony Black
Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 13
Registered: 3-2009
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 - 2:31 pm: | |
 |
Steve
Guest
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 - 3:44 pm: | |
Those pictures are good and really show that it is truly a "historic" pub. However I too am worried that there is now no garden and no parking. I think it has been ruined by allowing those little houses to be built in the back, and what is that stupid little place being sold for next door?!!! Who would ever want to live there?
Sorry, I'd like to be more supportive but sadly I think the Swan has become a dead duck! |
Tony Black
Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 14
Registered: 3-2009
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 - 4:09 pm: | |
Hi Steve, I hear what you say about limited space, but I'm not sure you're right.
Firstly, there is plenty of parking in Penwarden Way and, even though the local homeowners might not like that thought, they would if it was a good "hub" for their local community which they could enjoy and use (meeting rooms, guest rooms perhaps, or upstairs restaurant bistro style, with a traditional British Pub menu downstairs?) - something that would increase their property values because it's such a "cool" place to live near.
Secondly, yes I agree it's a shame about no garden - but there may be an opportunity to buy both properties -- the other being the "little one" next door that you refer to, and knock that down. I totally agree with you that no-one in their right mind would buy that as a home.
Like I said above, I think this is a viable business opportunity. I see a place that serves the very best home-made pies, game, savoury sossies, fresh cockles-mussels (alive-alive-o) and ploughmans etc. (after all, it was once a bakery  With Real Ale to boot, darts, pool, cards, quizzes, theme nights --- and a cosy Bistro upstairs serving really good steaks, fresh local fish and some unique vegetarian dishes in a romantic atmosphere! If we buy it - own it - and let a management team of no more than six people run it, I think it could be wonderful. I'm talking Gordon Ramsay here!!
But please understand these are my thoughts only. I'm not part of the Residents Group, but as "webservant" I am publicising the cause - as is my duty - just happens to be one that I believe in too (without bias, as anyone can post their opinions here). Personally I really like the idea of having a community pub - just as long it does not have a management group or committee comprised of all the "owners" (that would be a nighmare for the poor manager!) |
Tony Black
Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 15
Registered: 3-2009
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 - 10:00 pm: | |
The Public Consultation - Standing room only !
Tonight's consultation could surely have left no-one in any doubt about the strength of feeling for keeping the White Swan Pub. There are of course many issues yet to be faced, but the meeting was conducted in good faith simply to establish whether Bosham locals were interested in retaining this historic facility for community use.
The meeting was very efficiently chaired by Patsy West and an informative, concise presentation made by Mr. Chaloner Chute. The process took less than 35 minutes and when the vote came it was counted as 62 for, and 2 against. On that basis, although sensitive to the objections, the Residents Group have now obtained the remit to take things forward to the next stage
Further announcements will be made here in due course. In the meantime your comments will continue to be welcomed.
. |
Peter
Guest
| | Posted on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 1:07 pm: | |
Sorry to miss the meeting, glad to hear it went well. I'm 100% in favour. I like your point about property prices incresing, that sounds right to me, lots of places in london are in BIG demand near trendy hangouts! |
Tony Black
Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 16
Registered: 3-2009
| | Posted on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 2:00 pm: | |
Thanks for that Peter. I know that some residents in Penwarden Way are slightly worried (and one very opposed) but I do think we could go a long way to making it a hub for the whole Community -- North, South, Hoe, Broadbridge, Old, New, Bosham - call it what we may - it is ONE community, and we are ALL very fortunate to live here! |
Patsy West
Member
Username: Patsy
Post Number: 1
Registered: 5-2009
| | Posted on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 2:53 pm: | |
Have just been speaking with Mike from BBC Radio Sussex. They are giving our campaign a slot on the breakfast show at about 8-8.30am tomorrow. Chaloner will be speaking about our meeting and hopes to save the pub.
Best regards, Patsy |
Chaloner Chute
Guest
| | Posted on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 5:20 pm: | |
We were so pleased at the magnificent turn out last night. And the response has been fantastic! Lots of ideas emerged and a huge number of survey forms to sift through.
Many thanks for the great number of offers of help too. Invaluable.
We need to be careful about quoting figures and numbers. There is no consideration of Shares yet, let alone an appropriate business model. We shall be forming a Steering group next week to take this exciting project forward. Then we shall assess one or two other successful pubs run as community schemes, and get down to the business of conducting a professional survey and evaluation.
We shall report back once we know more.
Many thanks again for all your enthusiasm and support. It will drive us on!
Chaloner Chute |
Sue
Guest
| | Posted on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 5:26 pm: | |
Ha ha - you made me laugh so much with your Lord Braodbridge and Sir Medina pics. I can't think of two more worthy suspects. Serious subject but thank you for making it a bit less heavy! We want our Pub back, and to share it with others wold be a good thing. If there was a posibility to share it with the whole village and others it could be great. |
Cautious
Guest
| | Posted on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 5:50 pm: | |
Chaloner, please just be VERY careful not to allow any of the previous landlords back, They were the ones who ruined it for us who LIVE HERE. I could say much more but that's all I want to say now. Thanks. |
guess who?
Guest
| | Posted on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 6:12 pm: | |
Just got home from work, love to go the swan for a pint but I can't, so i'm of to the berks. see u there |
Local family since 1948
Guest
| | Posted on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 7:06 pm: | |
Also sorry to say, but I think the Swan is doomed. It has no garden, no parking, no space at all. It's a pokey run down sxxt building that may have been a historic inn once but is now a waste of space. I think it should be knocked down and the current owner locked up for allowing it to get into such a fxxxing state, he obviously did not care about our community at all, so i hope he rots in hxll.
[This message has been auto-moderated to remove bad language or slang words. Words considered offensive are replaced with x] |
neilhwilliams
Guest
| | Posted on Friday, May 22, 2009 - 1:13 pm: | |
I'm also of the opinion that the current owner should not have allowed it to get in such a state. I'm firmly of the opinion, that businessman or not, there is a certain 'noblesse oblige' that should be recognised when taking on a community asset or service. To simply ignore the community proves that he is a taker and not a giver. I firmly believe that givers also 'get', and are more spiritually fulfilled for doing so, hard headed business man or not. As to whether he should 'rot in hell'; I wouldn't wish that on anybody, even if it exists. I think we should look forward from this place and be GRATEFUL that the owner has placed us in this new, positive position. After all, he brought us here. |
Joan
Guest
| | Posted on Friday, May 22, 2009 - 2:33 pm: | |
I agree with everything Neil says EXCEPT I think it is a total disgrace that the owner let the pub run down so badly!! We have nothing to thank him for at all  |
Chaloner Chute
Guest
| | Posted on Friday, May 22, 2009 - 7:02 pm: | |
This is proving quite a lively forum. Great! Please tell friends so they too can join in to discuss issues and put their point of view across. It is one of the consultation mediums we shall use.
I agree with much said, and would just like to re-assure Cautious about prospective new landlords/ladies. If we proceed to Management team and staff appointments phase, after all the other steps, I envisage an interview process to get the right candidate(s). We are looking at forming the Steering group on Monday...yes, we shall be working on the case Bank Holiday!
I enjoyed y session on BBC this morning. Good questions and got most of our 'issues' out there.
We plan to do an insert for the June Downlands magazine, and shall be enouraging people for a little money to start paying for early costs like printing, surveys etc. With this in mind, Patsy and I are opening a temporary account at the Post Office with 2 signatoiries for good order.
If you are able to contribute say £10 each at this stage, it would get us off to good start.
Please keep a record of any contributions you are able to make. We were pleased there seems to be one or two Book-keepers out there we can ask for help.
Enjoy the week-end everyone.
Chaloner |
Cautious
Guest
| | Posted on Friday, May 22, 2009 - 9:44 pm: | |
Thanks. I'd be happy to donate to the cause but as yet we have heard nothing of how the money is to be raised? If you are seeking 1,000 people to donate £450 each (or 500, 250 100 people, whatever) I think you are optimistic. Can someone throw some light on this please. |
Tony Black
Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 19
Registered: 3-2009
| | Posted on Saturday, May 23, 2009 - 8:54 am: | |
Im afraid I can't, at this point only Patsy or Chaloner could address this issue.... See his message above about a steering committee and then reporting back next week. |
Dave French
Guest
| | Posted on Monday, May 25, 2009 - 5:46 pm: | |
Posted a link to this on FaceBook.
No community should lose its pub, they are vital. Patsy and team, I hope you succeed. |
Chaloner Chute
Guest
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 4:25 pm: | |
Hello Cautious
Just to re-iterate my early point. We are not ready to make a big Ask for funds to buy the pub back yet. We have several hoops and phases to go through first - not least a survey, a business plan and necessary research and due diligence to make sure we get this right as possibly can.
We shall not be asking for £450 each - more along the lines of donate what you can...and possibly a Share holding/Equity structure, but must wait and see.
Any early monies required - to be properly recorded - will be small sums, almost said, Beer! - and strictly for initial costs of printing, website creation and hosting, surveys, expenses incurred.
Hope this clarifies matters. |
Nick
Guest
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 2:56 pm: | |
Hi, great website. I hope you all succeed.
I used to live in Bosham and used the Swan a lot, it was a good pub but because its on the main road it attracted a few strange characters.
Nick |
Steve Hill
Guest
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 5:06 pm: | |
I live in Fishbourne and used to visit the pub as the beer was always great.
I would like to get involved with the campaign in some way as there are so many pubs disappearing... |
Ben
Guest
| | Posted on Friday, May 29, 2009 - 12:59 am: | |
The White Swan has been there for the 25 years I have been around and although it's a well known landmark if it was renovated the new manager would need to make it more family orientated and more friendly. With the last few landlords whenever I went in there the staff seemed unfriendly and some of the regulars were also unfriendly. It would need to be changed from what I remember it the last time I was there as a dingy den of the same people over and over making the "outsiders" feel unwelcome to a place people will want to visit more often.
Plus with those houses behind taking the car park and beer garden away things aren't looking too promising. |
mr grumpy
Guest
| | Posted on Friday, May 29, 2009 - 2:22 pm: | |
I have lived in bosham (broadbridge whatever!!) for many years. I hated the pub because it was a horrible place with no atmosfere and now it's even worse with no garden no parking and most of it sold off. I say good riddence to it. I think you are wasting your time and I hope you are. |
Tony Black
Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 20
Registered: 3-2009
| | Posted on Friday, May 29, 2009 - 2:39 pm: | |
Wow Mr Grumpy, you are indeed grumpy
I hear what you say and, judging from some of the above, you are not alone... BUT would you reconsider your thoughts of riddance if you could be assured things would be very different? Personally I think they could be. When you look at the photos above you see the faces of lots of guys and gals who really do care - and are equally as concerned as you - but willing to support it and give it a go.
In reading Chaloners comments you'll see that a very thoughtful process has only just begun. Time will tell. |
neilhwilliams
Guest
| | Posted on Friday, May 29, 2009 - 3:36 pm: | |
My wife and I used to drive to The Swan from Emsworth when it was run by Steve Woods. We went there BECAUSE it seemed to be the only real pub for miles around that consistently made us and our two children (then 4 and 6) welcome. It had a skittle alley for the kids to get rid of their energy, and no one tutted. We moved to Bosham some 6 years ago, and my kids have always felt very comfortable in that pub. Until the last 3 years. I WANT to see it back as it was. The most diverse welcoming clientelle it's ever been my pleasure to sup with, and I want to be able to take my (well behaved, now 10 and 12)kids in there again, regularly. |
Ben
Guest
| | Posted on Monday, June 01, 2009 - 7:01 pm: | |
Don't waste your time with people who do not have anything productive to say. From the information given the proposal sounds good but finding the funds to do so will be the hard part. Also I am sure there are various people of trades in Bosham who can donate a Saturday afternoon to helping using their skills to rebuild and renovate the pub. |
A V Monk
Guest
| | Posted on Monday, June 01, 2009 - 6:42 pm: | |
I used to frequent the White Swan in the mid seventies-mid eighties (when Hayden & Anne had it)It certainly was the best around and eventhough I was'nt a local (I'm a Surrey man) I made many good friends. I hope something can be done as I always remember it as a friendly family pub. I got a shock when I rolled up there with the Mrs last week only to find it empty! Good luck! |
Patsy West
Member
Username: Patsy
Post Number: 2
Registered: 5-2009
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 6:01 pm: | |
Hi. I thought I would add to the debate myself as I have kept quiet ... not deliberately. Just to update you all. I have had at least two phone calls a day from folk who want to show their support for the pub. I had a lady from Emsworth, who said she hasn't used the pub before, but would love to support the campaign in any way she can. She said she would love to have a meal there one day!!! wouldn't we all! The first meeting of the working group to get things moving on the next phase will be meeting next week and we will let you know what comes of that. Thanks for contributing to the lively debate --- this is proving to be a very interesting project and am meeting some really great people along the way. |
milky
Guest
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 - 5:27 pm: | |
if you get the swan up and running il be moving back to bosham from the isle of wight.
the white swan was the best pub ever and so was everyone who drunk there GOOD LUCK ALL . |
Phil
Guest
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 - 2:12 pm: | |
So... what happened to the dream? I'm hearing that it's dead... what a shame if so? |
Admin
Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 24
Registered: 3-2009
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 - 2:22 pm: | |
Hi Phil, sorry I don't know. I hear all sorts of rumours but nothing confirmed. Yes, I've heard that the project has crashed and burned - but I'm not sure. I know their new website is still online but the action plan and diary now appears to be empty?
I'll contact Patsy or Chaloner and see if we get the full story...
Tony |
Admin
Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 25
Registered: 3-2009
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 - 2:41 pm: | |
Hi again, just spoke to Patsy. Apparently there was a glitch in the matrix but the project is still alive, with some new folks involved.
Patsy hopes to post an update here within a few days.
Tony |
Ian Ellis
Guest
| | Posted on Monday, October 12, 2009 - 12:11 pm: | |
Hi; we're having a public meeting tonight 12th October about our last village pub - the Oddfellows Arms in Pulborough. Just discovered your possible campaign (via CAMRA website). Can anyone please give me an update on progress? |
Admin
Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 26
Registered: 3-2009
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 9:40 am: | |
Sorry, apparently not. We keep hearing that it's dead in the water but just don't know for sure what will happen |
Admin
Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 29
Registered: 3-2009
| | Posted on Monday, October 26, 2009 - 12:19 pm: | |
Update: spoke to Patsy today, the syndicate is definitely disbanded and the pub remains on the open market. Apart from that, no news. Sorry.
Anyone who has an interest may like to keep an eye on the CDC Planning applications online. |
