Community co-operatives are bringing some of Britain's flagging local pubs back from the brink of extinction.
The Independent reported this weekend (Saturday April 9th) that residents of Ennerdale Bridge, in the Lake District, came together to come up with a plan to stop the closure of their local pub, The Fox & Hounds.
It closed at the end of last year, and looked set to join the large number of pubs that are closing in the UK.
Last month, the British Beer and Pub Association said pubs are closing at the rate of 25 per week. This may be slower that the 40 per week that were shutting down in 2009, but there were nearly 1,300 fewer pubs in Britain by the end of 2010.
Not so in Ennerdale Bridge. Villagers met in February to moot the idea of buying the pub outright – having only ten days to get together the cash before the pub's owners spoke to other suitors.
Support gathered quickly – from the 130 people that attended the meeting and said they would pledge cash, a further 50 people joined the co-operative, putting in amounts ranging from £100 to £4,000 each.
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