Rumours Rife Around Pub Refurbishment
If anybody actually knows what is happening with the proposed refurbishment of the Queen Elizabeth then please let us know so that we can replace the village rumours with some hard facts.
Latest rumours are:
“Axtell-Powell Developments Ltd have been awarded the contract for the refurbishment and will be starting work before the end of Janury.” – Mark Axtell-Powell has said that this rumour is untrue.
“Contractors have been appointed and will start work on the 28th of January.” – It is now the 29th and no sign of any work so far !
“The people who operate the Childswickham Inn have been interviewed twice and are front runners to manage the pub.”
“The selected tenant for the pub has backed out and Admiral Taverns are having to re-advertise the post”
The only things I can confirm as facts from the public record are:
1. Planning permission was granted on 12th September 2007
2. A licence was granted to the premises on 14th December 2007
The licence covers:
Opening HoursÂ
Sunday – Thursday – 10:00am – 12:30am
Friday & Saturday -Â 10:00am – 01:30am
Allowable Activities
a) The Supply of Alcohol
b) The provision of facilities for dancing
c) The provision of facilities for making music
d) Performance of dance
e) Playing recorded music
f)Â Playing live music
g) Playing of indoor sporting events
f) Exhibition of films
The Admiral Taverns website is still advertising the pub as available on a 20 year lease, with a required initial investment of £73,500
http://www.admiraltaverns.co.uk/tenanciesavailable3.asp?pubID=271
If anybody knows anything more, then please email the details to editor@elmleycastle.com
James Hickman
Elmley Castle
02/3/08, 11:14 AM |
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
02/6/08, 11:26 AM |
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
02/10/08, 1:25 PM |
I spoke with Admiral today and they confirmed the deal they had been working on was now “dead in the water”.
02/11/08, 2:24 PM |
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
02/15/08, 4:56 AM |
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
02/17/08, 9:54 AM |
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!!