Community Rallies to Save The Jackson Stops: A Call for Stretton's Support
The Jackson Stops Country Inn, a cornerstone of the Stretton community, faces an uncertain future, but residents are galvanising to bring it back as a community-run pub. The pub, which abruptly closed its doors in January and has since been on the market, has been designated an "Asset of Community Value." This crucial classification provides the community with the opportunity to take ownership and prevent the building from being sold for a change of use.
While an ideal scenario would see a private buyer re-open The Inn, no such solution has materialised, prompting local residents to explore the possibility of a community-led venture. This ambitious undertaking, though challenging, has a successful precedent, with over 150 similar pubs across the UK saved by the very communities they serve.
To gauge local interest and gather vital input, a short survey has been circulated amongst residents of Stretton and surrounding areas, as well as past patrons of The Jackson Stops. The survey aims to explore the community's appetite for a co-operative pub model and to envision what such an establishment might look like.
Re-opening The Jackson Stops as a community-run pub will require significant energy, resources, and, crucially, funding. Various avenues for financial support are being considered, including bursaries, grants, crowdfunding, raising share capital, and loans. The community also plans to assess the viability of maintaining the current model of fine restaurant dining alongside a traditional local pub offering.
A public meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, July 16th at 6:00 PM in the Community Hub (St Nicholas Church). All interested community members are warmly invited to attend. This meeting will provide an update on the progress made so far, outline the options available to the community, and facilitate the election of a committee to steer the project forward.
No comments:
Post a Comment
🎉 Comments Are Now Live! 🎉
Hello, Oakham and Rutland readers!
We have some exciting news to share with you: you can now comment directly on every single article on Oakham and Rutland News!
We're absolutely thrilled to be giving our amazing communities a real, active voice.
We know many towns often feel forgotten by big-name and regional media, but our mission at Oakham and Rutland News is to put local people back at the very heart of the conversation.
Now, it's easier than ever to tell us what matters most to you in your town or village, share your thoughts on local news, and connect with your neighbours. Leaving a comment is simple—just scroll down to the bottom of any article!
To keep things friendly and ensure real people are talking (not those pesky bots or fake accounts!), we kindly ask that you register with Google first.
Finally, we'll be keeping a close eye on the discussions to make sure they stay respectful and free from any bad language or abuse. This is all part of our commitment to high-quality, original local journalism that everyone can enjoy.
We truly can't wait to hear what you have to say. Your voice matters to us. Let's take Oakham and Rutland News to the next level, together!