I have decided that I will talk to Admiral Taverns about taking on the lease for the pub myself, either alone or as part of a partnership with others in the village, if there is any interest.

If anyone would like to join a village partnership then please let me know.
email: editor@ElmleyCastle.com

Assuming that we would need £100,000 to get things up and running (allowing for initial stock as well as the £73,500 going in fee) then an investment of £1,000 would give you a 1% stake in the partnership, an investment of £5,000 would give you a 5% stake in the partnership, etc., etc.

I have no idea if this would be considered favourably by Admiral Taverns but if we don’t ask the question, we will never know!

James Hickman
Church House
Elmley Castle

I have been chasing Kate Powell, the Admiral Taverns Business Development Manager for the Queen Elizabeth for the last three days. I have left messages and emails but without any reply so far !

I will increase my efforts and hope to move things forward shortly.

Two people have expressed an interest in investing in the partnership to date, the more the merrier. Just email Editor@ElmleyCastle.com if you want to be involved.

James Hickman
Church House
Elmley Castle

I spoke with Admiral today and they confirmed the deal they had been working on was now “dead in the water”.

I Finally got to speak to Kate Powell the business development manager for the pub today. She said that they would probably be re-opening the interview process for tenants within a couple of weeks. Although there was still a slim chance that a deal they are currently working on might work out.

She did not seem very keen on my proposal, but did agree to let me submit an application form and business plan.

James

I have received another expression of interest from somebody wanting to invest in the Pub. That brings the total to 4 including myself so far.

I hope to have the business plan ready for submission to Admiral Taverns by the end of next week.

James

1. Having tried to find a tenant for over a year, do Admira Taverns really expect us to believe that they can now find one?
2. Meanwhile the building continues to deteriorate daily. Likewise, the repair bill is rocketing.
3. The Queens has existed for over 400 years. It will be there long after Admiral has been consigned to history. Admiral are merely the temporary stewards. The pub really belongs to the village; it was and continues to be the peoples’ pub.
4. At no stage have the locals been consulted as to what kind of pub THEY would like. They are after all the potential source of income on which the future business depends.
5. So, come on Admiral, do the decent thing – exercise your stewardship, refurbish the pub, put a manager in – and GIVE US BACK OUR LOCAL!!