Residents invest in community pub with additional funding package

A community pub has secured additional loan finance and investment for growth ensuring protection and ownership for future generations.

In 2021 The Bell Inn pub in Frisby on the Wreake (situated on the Upper Wreake Valley of Leicestershire) had closed its doors as the village’s only remaining pub. The community worked quickly and proactively in forming ‘The Bell Inn Frisby Community Group’ and contacting the wider community through household surveys and consultation. This eventually led to the purchasing of the much-loved community asset later that year through an impressive community share offer and supportive loan finance from Co-operative and Community Finance and their legacy ‘More Than a Pub Fund’ scheme.

Music group in the outside performance area at The Bell Inn

Since that time the society has further consulted the community to seek feedback on satisfaction of their services, facilities and activities, as well as ideas for expanding and developing community provision and potential future funding for capital projects. The pub has also invested in building renovation and upgrades including electrics, heating, new patio and garden area, outside performance area, new windows, carpets, furniture, fire doors, appliances, external brickwork repointing and a refurbished and upgraded living quarters in the building.

The pub has also been used successfully as a community hub hosting a total of 28 local groups and societies for meetings or activities ranging from the village friendship group weekly meet-up, sports society meetings, a Macmillan coffee morning, monthly NHS Care Team meetings and regular mother and toddler groups. The pub also has regular quiz nights, live music and seasonal events in addition to the community activities led by groups in the village.

28 local groups and societies have used The Bell Inn for meetings or activities

Co-operative & Community Finance were delighted to provide an additional loan package to re-profile existing loans and to assist with cash-flow and working capital as the pub moves through busier trading periods and continues the redecoration and renovation of the building. Tim Coomer, Business Development Manager at Co-operative & Community Finance said: “We are so pleased to be able to support the Bell Inn, the hospitality sector is facing huge pressures at the moment, so it’s fantastic to see yet another Community Owned pub bucking the trend and able to invest in the fabric of the pub for future generations to benefit. The range of ‘more than’ activity held at the Bell is particularly impressive and we wish them great future success.”

The completion of a recent housing development in the area also provides scope to attract more local residents to the pub, create more involvement in the society and increased use of the pub as a venue and community hub.

 

Alan Charlton, Chair of The Bell Inn Frisby Community Group said: “We are very grateful to have worked with CCF to secure further finance to support the business. This additional finance will assist in developing the future of the business which is a key part of the community. We found the process very professional and are looking forward to the future.”

You can find out more about The Bell Inn Community Pub by visiting their website.