Where we are now!

Coronavirus has devasted the whole country and will continue to do so for a long time yet! Perversely enough, this demonstrates why Kirkby Malzeard really needs a community pub. The name says it all – a pub that is bought by the community and refurbished by the community to serve that same community, is more caring than other establishments (perhaps owned by chains), where profit is the main driving force.

Life still goes on. People still need to socialise, to go out with friends and family. Not able to holiday abroad, people now enjoy a ‘Staycation’ and, with travelling anywhere being awkward, more people than ever are now enjoying meals, drinks and evenings-out closer to home.

Who knows how many pubs will actually survive coronavirus – especially if more lockdowns and curfews are imposed upon the nation? Our early researches show that Community Pubs which are actually owned by the customers that drink there are better placed to survive and thrive. They tend to provide a wider range of services as requested by their local residents and by supporting organisations such as ‘More than a Pub’ and customers young and old feel safer and more comfortable there.

The campaign to save the Henry Jenkins for the village, though slowed by the pandemic and dependent on the result of the forthcoming planning appeal, is still ongoing.

We continue to seek the sale of more Community Shares total which is now less than £20k short of the target and still climbing.

If you can, please invest – help us hit our target!

The Associate Membership scheme for those who want to demonstrate their support but are unable or unwilling to purchase shares will be launched in the next couple of weeks – watch out for the leaflet through your letterbox!

We continue to press the owner for a sale and as soon as the appeal process is over a renewed purchase bid will be placed on the table.

And, perhaps most importantly of all, to prepare for a possible ‘no deal’ scenario, preliminary investigations into a possible Compulsory Purchase Order by Harrogate Borough Council have now already commenced. More details about this will be published in due course.

So please do continue to follow our story. And, if you support the campaign, please join us as a full or associate member.

Finally, we are always happy to know what people think, so please do send us your thoughts and comments. (Contact details below)

Dave Robinson,
Chairman, Henry Jenkins Community Pub Ltd

01765 658123
07860 396170
HJCPLtd@gmail.com