The Cross Guns Pant

Newsletter November 25

Thank you for your interest in helping

to save the Cross Guns!

Dear reader, thank you for expressing an interest in helping to save the Cross Guns – we can’t do any of this without your support. At our public meeting on 20th November, over fifty people came together to agree that a community buyout would be the best option to secure the future of our much-valued village hub.

A steering group has been formed and we are moving forward with a business plan. It is early days and things are happening very quickly, as we only have until 20th April 2026 to complete our purchase before the building goes on the open market. This is the first in a series of newsletters to keep you informed!

Currently we are in the process of raising pledges and looking at grants to help towards our target of £500,000. This is to purchase the pub, cover the VAT and stamp duty, pay for essential works and provide some working capital.

You may be asking How can you help today?

We very much appreciate your interest in helping. As well as the financial pledges, which we were delighted to receive, we also need support in other ways. Our first step was to form a steering group and if you would like to join this, please email us at info@crossguns.org.uk. A number of people said they could offer professional services such as fundraising, legal advice and property maintenance, so we’re keen to know more. Again, please get in touch!

Please share this newsletter with everyone you know, we need as much as help as possible if we are to be successful!

We are particularly keen to get younger people involved. If anyone knows someone who has experience of creating content on Tik Tok we would love to hear from you.

Volunteer

Latest News Posts

Public Meeting Was A Success

It might have been a cold November night, but that didn’t deter just over 50 local people in Pant meeting at the Memorial Hall to hear from two community pub experts.

Immediately subsequent to a very successful public meeting might be a good point at which to take stock of where we’ve got so far. Quite a long way, it turns out. Via the parish council a community interest in the Cross Guns has been registered.

A Community Benefit Society is a specific type of legal structure which serves the community, with profits and assets used for the community's benefit. It is owned by members who hold shares and it is run on the democratic principle of one-member-one-vote.

More than just a pub.

For the Cross Guns to thrive in future, it needs to be more than just a pub. Some of the suggestions received in our survey include a daytime café, community events, meeting space, takeaway meals, family events, tourist information, parcel lockers and a community garden.

Whatever we offer, the focus will be on our local community, while also providing a welcoming space for passers-by, tourists and walkers to relax, socialise and engage with our community.

The video presentation below is the results from the first 100 online surveys received and some slides from the public presentation. There are also some key takeaways at the end from people who came to the meeting.

Christmas Pop-up Pub - save the date !

The next Pop-up Pub takes place at Pant Memorial Hall on Friday 12th December from 5.30pm. The family friendly Christmas-themed community event will include a festive raffle and a prize for the best Christmas jumper. Bring your own favourite alcoholic tipple or enjoy alcohol-free mulled wine, which will be on sale at the hall. There will also be a gourmet burger van in the car park. See you there!

Funds needed now!

The proceeds from the December Pop-up Pub – as well as future ones – will go towards the Save the Cross Guns campaign. In order to progress our bid for the Cross Guns we already need funds for business admin, marketing, publicity, surveyors, professional advice etc, etc!