The Bell Inn Community Buyout scheme to launch this weekend

“agree with mary 100 %. the pub will be so different with out Ian. he has put his stamp on it over the years and even if this plan goes ahead which seems doubtful to raise the cash in time , it looks shaky and like it will fall apart in a year or two. who are these overconfident people who are suddenly running it all and taking all the credit. i have had many memorable times at the Bell but it will never be the same again . RIP. let it go and keep the memories. Ian you will be so missed.”

“At any rate (I was going to say... don't seem to be having much luck with posting here:)) our printed share offer document, which has by law to be accurate about what we are offering and what the risks are, and which as been vetted by a number of advisors with decades of experience, will be available from this weekend. And our business plan, including the figures and spreadsheets deemd by Ian to be cautious rather than bold, will be available online by Monday. The share offer document also references government website information that will help all would-be investors to get a full and frank picture.

So... people can simply look at the information and judge for themselves. As with any investment.”

“Apologies Mary for my comment appearing twice. It didn't seem to have been accepted by the site the first time... thought my new member login was not working.

As for your other comments, well they are so wide of the mark and of what I actually said that I wonder what could be driving them. And I wonder too, why such passion? You may or may not feel that this proposition will fail, as you are entitled to do. But there seems to be more behind what you write?

At any rate, our bus”

“Previously unheard of guy rides into town, claims responsibility for most of Ians work and results.
Promises free beer tomorrow for a few thousand up front, says it twice to drive home the message.

If we are going to harp on about Dad's Army, then this guy is as trustworthy as Private Walker and all you red-arrow folk are as gullible as Private Pyke.

But it's only a hipster pub, waste your money if you want to, see if I care.”

“Lets hope the Bell keeps Ringing! I just might invest a few spare quid myself just for the hell of it. After all it's only money!
GOOD LUCK TO ALL INVESTERS!”

“"Doomed! Doomed! We're all doomed!" Had a vision of Fraser from Dad's Army there for a moment.

Anyway, I thought I'd speak up for the "strong and clearsighted leadership" of which you speak.

I did time at The Bell in the '90s and have worked there fulltime as a manager since 2006. Since taking on my current role in 2011, heading up the team, I have seen profits rise by 60% in a sector which has generally been suffering. My lovely colleague Jamie has been at the pub since the start of the Ian era 24 years ago. Our real ale specialist, he is constantly commended by all from Health Inspectors to CAMRA. Many of our other key staff have been in the team for upwards of four years. And of course Steve Henwood, another 24 year man, is our band booker and also part of the buyout team.

After the community acquisition of The Bell, the same team will continue to run it. They will simply be answerable to and appointed by the Board representing community shareholders rather than to Ian.

Indeed, in our round of the banks, identifying funding should it be necessary, they have stressed most of all that it is the experience and track record of the management team that is weighing most strongly in our favour, so that they have been biting our hands off to offer rates and terms which I would have thought impossible before we started out.

These banks have of course seen past accounts , our business plan and future projections. They recognise the proposition as the marvellous risk it is.... a thriving business with a great track record which will still be run by the people who know so well how to run it!

As for investment, we aim to pay a minimum of 3% on shares in the first year – allowing for some long overdue refurbishment of the building externally – and a minimum 5% in future years. There are no guarantees in the world of shareholding, but we come as close to a safe bet as you will see. The numbers have been crunched and re-crunched. Even Ian thinks we are being cautious in our predictions.

Moreover - and most importantly - we will also be in the business of taking the Bell from strength to strength as the wonderful community hub and resource it has become: home of top-quality free live music, of The Fringe and numerous cultural events, of 10 beautifully-kept real ales and most of all of a totally eclectic and loveable cross-section of clientele such as you will find nowhere else.

Alternatively we could just let it become a chain pub. Now that really WOULD be my definition of "doomed"

Vive The Bell!

Patrick Cave, General Manager @ The Bell

Note: share offer documents available from this weekend, official launch Sat. 16th, starting with opening by Don Foster at lunchtime, then plenty of live music and other goodies into the evening”

“"Doomed! Doomed! We're all doomed!" Had a vision of Fraser from Dad's Army there for a moment.

Anyway, I thought I'd speak up for the "strong and clearsighted leadership" of which you speak.
I did time at The Bell in the '90s and have worked there fulltime as a manager since 2006. Since taking on my current role in 2011, heading up the team, I have seen profits rise by 60% in a sector which has generally been suffering. My lovely colleague Jamie has been at the pub since the start of the Ian era 24 years ago. Our real ale specialist, he is constantly commended by all from Health Inspectors to CAMRA. Many of our other key staff have been in the team for upwards of four years. And of course Steve Henwood, another 24 year man, is our band booker and also part of the buyout team.

After the community acquisition of The Bell, the same team will continue to run it. They will simply be answerable to and appointed by the community shareholders rather than to Ian.
Indeed, in our round of the banks, identifying funding should it be necessary, they have stressed most of all that it is the experience and track record of the management team that is weighing most strongly in our favour, so that they have been biting our hands off to offer rates and terms which I would have thought impossible before we started out.

These banks have of course seen past accounts , our business plan and future projections. They recognise the proposition as the marvellous risk it is.... a thriving business with a great track record which will still be run by the people who know so well how to run it!

As for investment, we aim to pay a minimum of 3% on shares in the first year – allowing for some long overdue refurbishment of the building externally – and a minimum 5% in future years. There are no guarantees in the world of shareholding, but we come as close to a safe bet as you will see. The numbers have been crunched and re-crunched. Even Ian thinks we are being cautious in our predictions.

Moreover - and most importantly - we will also be in the business of taking the Bell from strength to strength as the wonderful community hub and resource it has become: home of top-quality free live music, of The Fringe and numerous cultural events, of 10 beautifully-kept real ales and most of all of a totally eclectic and loveable cross-section of clientele such as you will find nowhere else.

Alternatively we could just let it become a chain pub. Now that really WOULD be my definition of "doomed"

Vive The Bell!”

“It may succeed, even if against the odds. Such ventures have worked elsewhere. Of course it won't be the same. It could even be beter but it'll at least still be different from most pubs.”

“joejohn is right, this scheme is doomed. To run a successful business takes strong and clearsighted leadership, such as Ian Woods has provided for the last how many years. Without Ian the Bell is ghost pub.

If you've got money to throw away, invest in the Bell, you'll never see a return on your investment and more pertinently , for all these well-intentioned efforts, the Bell will never be the same again for all that.

Let it go. RIP.”

“A good test to see if those outspoken supporters will put their money where their mouths are. Good luck to the project.”