How much have we raised so far ?

£350,000

Slaley’s Rose & Crown is a key asset to this scenic Northumberland village of around 250 houses. A 17th century coaching inn, it has sweeping views across the valley to Slaley forest and beyond.

Until recently, the Rose & Crown had been a popular meeting, eating and sleeping place. With a strong reputation for good beer and excellent food it drew visitors from far and wide to enjoy its hospitality. In the past ten years as brewery investment in the business was minimised it has suffered from rapid changes in tenancy and periods of closure.

There is no similar asset in the village, so as the pub’s role as a social outlet continues to decline, the community risks becoming fragmented, some older villagers increasingly isolated and opportunities for younger & older villagers to develop new skills locally become non-existent.

In response to this situation and through two public meetings and an extensive survey, a large number of Slaley residents agreed that they wanted the pub to remain open and also to become a thriving enterprise for community benefit.

The brewery now intend to dispose of the pub, and the community, via our co-operative, Slaley Community Assets Ltd has an opportunity to purchase it for the benefit of the village. It will continue as a public house, we will reopen the restaurant and follow with the B&B and other facilities.

The price, purchasing costs and immediate essential repairs will be in the region of £250,000. 

We are now raising these funds via a community share offer which will run until July 2013 and this is where we need your help.