The Blue Bell Community Hub

Charlotte Roberts is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Hello!

After 5 years of blood sweat and tears to revive our local community non-profit pub the Blue Bell at Cocking as a community asset we need YOUR help to get over the final hurdle. Without an urgent cash injection of £30,000 our endeavours will have been in vain, and the pub will close forever. Recent economic conditions have put the enterprise on a knife edge , but if we can make that final leap and wipe the slate clean, we have exciting tenants ready to take over and relaunch – thus ensuring the pub goes forward as a viable business . Any donation however small will help us over the finishing line – please help now!

Our Background

The Blue Bell Community Hub which owns the Blue Bell pub in Cocking, West Sussex, UK has launched one final attempt to fundraise £30,000 which will be essential to allow the pub to stay open and take on experienced and exciting new tenants later in January. This will take our community pub forward to the next stage of its journey!

We are seeking donations (and we have an open shareholding offer - details can be found here) from individuals, businesses, and local organisations to help protect this cherished community asset. Since reopening in 2019 as a not-for-profit, community-run venue, the Blue Bell has quickly become a hub of activity in the heart of Cocking.

Cocking, near Midhurst, was the centre of great celebration in December 2019, when the “Blue Bell at Cocking” re-opened as a community-based village Hub and was saved from disappearing into a housing development.

Situated in the picturesque South Downs National Park, the pub and community hub offer more than just food and drink—they serve as a vital meeting place for residents, hikers, cyclists, and tourists. With a garden offering stunning views of the Downs, a dog-friendly atmosphere, and cycle repair amenities, the Blue Bell is both a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and a social focal point for the village.

In 2018 the project began, and in December 2019 the Blue Bell opened its doors with a large gathering of locals. Then COVID came along, and the Blue Bell had to close in line with Government policy multiple times throughout 2020 and 2021. However, through all these challenges, the Blue Bell pub re-opened as proposed, providing up until now a bustling village pub, a restaurant serving good quality pub grub, a café, bed & breakfast, and an information centre for visitors to the South Downs National Park.

Sadly due to unexpected circumstances we find ourselves in a position where we have one final chance to raise sufficient funds to keep the pub open. Funds will be used to pay burdensome debts and create the best possible environment for our prospective tenants to move in and bring our pub and community back to life.

The Blue Bell does make a profit as a business standing on its own. It does not however, provide enough profit for the Community Hub that owns the building to be able to fully service its own debt which arises from the initial purchase set up. This has been further impacted by COVID which struck just after we originally opened - I know this affected everyone, but as a new business it hit us really hard. In short, we need to clear our short term financial commitments to allow us to clear the present slate so we can take on Tenants who would in turn be able to run their own profitable business in the Blue Bell. That is why we need this current one off cash injection into the Community Hub. Plunkett UK, who support us and community projects similar to ours, advise that 98% of community owned pubs with tenants succeed hence our desperate need to change our model before we have to close for good. Any help any of you can give would be amazing.

Please use our GoFundMe, email us or visit our shareholder investment page.https://thebluebellatcocking.co.uk/blue-bell-community-hub/investing/

Thank you so much for helping our community hub, it is greatly appreciated! In addition to our GoFundMe page we are collecting a growing number of pledges so we are hopeful we will make our target and are very grateful to all those helping us get there!

If however we are not successful in achieving our target, GoFundMe has a mechanism for us to be able to refund you.

Organised by Charlotte Roberts, Secretary of the Blue Bell Community Hub. All funds raised go directly to the Hub.