Gold Lion – Ashton Hayes Community Hub Limited Tenant Brief
1 General
Ashton Hayes Community Hub Limited (AHCHL), a registered Community Benefit Society CBS), acquired the pub with the sole intention to preserve it as the only village pub and hub directly serving its community. The property is currently undergoing a full restoration to bring it up to modern structural and finishing standards. AHCHL has certain obligations to its key funder, the Community Ownership Fund, and to the community shareholders who have supported the project through the Community Share Offer, which it needs to comply with. These obligations relate principally to securing, reinstating and thereafter maintaining The Golden Lion as the village Pub and Hub it has been for well over 200 years and to maintain this for the benefit and welfare of all the members of the Ashton Hayes community. We believe that, with the very substantial financial and volunteer support which has been shown by the shareholders, members of the community and contractors, satisfying these obligations will positively assist the re-establishment of the business in The Golden Lion. This document is intended to give interested parties an overview and some items may be negotiable.
The tenant will enter into a lease agreement with Ashton Hayes Community Hub Limited.
2 Management Arrangements
The board of AHCHL are keen to see the business succeed and want to help the tenant in any way that they can in order to achieve this aim. However, AHCHL have no wish to micro manage this business and we fully recognise that the tenant must be left to develop and manage the business in the manner that they choose. AHCHL are seeking a constructive and supportive relationship in which the broad direction of the business is set, targets agreed, and key milestones confirmed. Quarterly review meetings will be held between the tenant and AHCHL representatives at which progress can be discussed and key decisions made. AHCHL require an open book policy in which a mutually agreed accountant has oversight of the financial performance and record keeping. AHCHL may ask the tenant to agree to host some specific social or village events, in accordance with the details in section 5. AHCHL would be interested in hearing and exploring suggestions from prospective tenants on how the hub element might be developed and delivered in line with the needs of the community, but in general all other matters will be the responsibility of the tenant.
3 Name of Pub
The name of the pub is The Golden Lion and may not be changed by the tenant.
4 Commitment to local community
As a community enterprise, AHCHL considers a commitment to the local community to be essential and would expect the Tenant to actively demonstrate such a commitment. The Golden Lion is not the only community space within the village. There are other community spaces, such as the village hall and church and we would not seek any direct competition with any provision provided elsewhere in the village.
5 Community facilities
AHCHL is committed to developing The Golden Lion as the Pub and Hub of the community. The tenant shall deliver both food and wet sales commensurate with a traditional rural pub and will help to provide facilities for the village both inside and outside the pub. The location and frequency of the provision of community activities and facilities will be the subject of negotiation with the tenant, as will be the responsibility for managing such facilities. AHCHL do not expect additional community activities and facilities to be provided without charge or costs being covered, they do expect them to be appealing and affordable. We would wish to explore opportunities for mutual support between the tenant and the community, possibly through volunteer support for some community facilities or activities. The lease will make reference to our desire to develop these facilities and the need for the tenant’s co-operation in the same.
6 Buy In
AHCHL understand that different tenants have differing requirements and expectations to bar, restaurant and kitchen facilities and layout. AHCHL would be keen to engage a tenant early in the fit-out of these key areas and would welcome interested parties indicating what levels of investment they would be considering and which areas of the final fit-out they would wish to influence and invest in.
The following are current specific provisions related to this commitment:
Provision Overview
• A warm and welcoming family (and possibly dog) friendly, food focussed pub where people can enjoy good food and drink.
• An inclusive, vibrant, social meeting place, where all parts of the community feel welcome.
• Traditional family country pub serving the needs of the local community but providing an attractive destination pub for people from the wider area.
• “Hub in the pub” – the pub business is not the sole function of the operation and the pub has been purchased by the community to also be a hub of the community.
The Landlord/Tenant
• A warm, welcoming and inclusive pub landlord and one that that will actively promote community cohesion.
• A landlord/tenant that is friendly and village-orientated that wants to be actively engaged with village life and has the ambition for The Golden Lion to become a vibrant part of the community and local area.
• Maintain a positive and professional social media presence.
• Providing high levels of friendly customer service to all.
Food and Drink Offering
• A good range of (wherever possible) locally produced and sourced beers, lagers and ciders as well as a good selection of wines and non-alcoholic drinks.
• Good quality pub food with changing specials providing variety and choice e.g. healthy options, veggie/vegan alternatives, children’s menus, weekend/Sunday roast.
• Affordable meals, although more “up market” food offerings may also be available. All food should focus on fresh produce and consistently good quality.
• Day time offering e.g. coffee and cake targeted as a meeting place for people in the village in the mornings and light lunches/sandwiches available at lunch times.
Facilities
• Clear and consistent opening hours –
The tenant will be entitled to open the pub within the constraints of the hours as permitted by law or local licensing requirements. The precise opening times of the pub will be agreed between the landlord and the tenant and will be agreed prior to the lease beginning. The agreed times can be changed by mutual consent but the landlord will expect the pub to be open seven days a week throughout the year during those hours which are considered customary within the licensed trade.
• Well maintained premises, with high levels of cleanliness and safety.
• Well kept, maintained and attractive external grounds.
• The layout of the pub to meet the needs of both drinkers and diners, ensuring all feel welcome and comfortable – balancing a “restaurant/lounge” culture with those that want to meet socially for a drink.
• Car parking facilities for the safe use of pub customers and the use of car parking for the village shop, and other community uses when required. AHCHL will retain the right to install EV charging points and cycle racks on the car park.
• The access route to the village shop from the car park will be retained throughout the term.
• A dedicated pre-bookable and separate space for Parish Council Meetings, usually once a month on a Monday and at nil cost. The meeting room is to be available free of cost to other Ashton Hayes Community Groups during normal hours.
• Wifi access for residents and other users requiring good, secure broadband access for short-term working or online meetings.
Activities and Community Engagement
• Hosting a range of different social activities/events in the pub and grounds. Regular events that appeal to a wide range of preferences (e.g. summer BBQs, social evenings, live music events, quiz nights, and externally, differing food offers, small fairs or community gatherings) to help develop a sense of community spirit.
• To promote activities, services and facilities that contribute towards developing community cohesion, combat social isolation (e.g. drop-in socials) and promote health and well-being (e.g. walking, cycling, or cultural groups).
• Actively develop links with and supporting existing community events and groups but not directly competing with existing village facilities such as the Church, School, Village Hall and Pavilion.
Enthusiastic Green Community
• Ashton Hayes Community Hub Limited has over 370 shareholders who have personally invested to ‘Save The Golden Lion’. The tenant will be expected to provide a report to the annual Shareholder AGM. The levels of enthusiasm and support are indicative of the importance of a successful Pub and Hub to the community and of the potential client base available.
• The tenant will (without breaching HR rules) be encouraged to support local people in employment – particularly young people where opportunities for jobs are limited. They will also support and engage with offers of help from volunteers, where it would not have a detrimental impact on the business.
• There will be a commitment by the tenant to ensure energy efficiency measures are maintained or put in place, wherever possible to ensure the running of the pub is in the most environmentally friendly way.
