The Friends of the Gardeners have today communicated to the local residents, via social media, that the campaign is over! The post stated the following;
Dear resident,
As you know, The Gardeners Inn, Cossall was closed in February 2022 after being purchased by a property developer who planned to demolish it and build five detached houses. In response, patrons of the pub formed The Friends of the Gardeners Inn group to oppose these plans and successfully represented the community’s objections to the proposed development.
A Business Plan was created, residents continued to share their opposition at subsequent planning appeal meetings and a government inspector blocked the demolition of the village pub after deeming it too valuable to the local community.
The community hoped to raise enough money from The Community Ownership Fund and through selling Community Shares to purchase and renovate the pub.
Unfortunately, time was against us, and circumstances were challenging. The deadline for the final round of the Community Ownership Fund was 26th June 2024 and despite receiving £34,000 in community share pledges, the £350,000 asking price for The Gardeners Inn was over £100,000 higher than its independent valuation, and the current owner was unwilling to accept our offers or negotiate.
Without an agreement of sale the community were not in the position to apply for the Community Ownership fund which would have provided £300,000 towards purchase and refurbishment costs.
Unless something remarkable happens it seems we will lose this valuable social space for good. This is truly a shame.
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone involved for their efforts to save the pub, especially those on the Committee, local trades people who offered their services free, and everyone who responded to the Pledge survey.
The Friends of The Gardener’s Inn Ltd. Community Benefit Society will now be wrapped up and the future of the Pub is now in the hands of the Property Developer and Broxtowe Borough Council.
Kind regards
Bronya,
(On behalf of The Friends of The Gardener’s Inn Ltd)
Thanks to all CAMRA members that supported this campaign and whilst the outcome is not what we hoped for, it definitely highlighted the importance of supporting pubs through the Assets of Community Value initiative.
