Village News

On Friday November 4th 2016 (this week) there will be an Pop-Up Pub at Little Wolford Village Hall.
Starting at 6.30pm with last orders at 10.30pm.

This will be a social event to allow villagers to meet up while the Fox and Hounds is closed and to discuss ideas and strategy for the campaign to rescue the Pub while raising funds too.

We’re offering Prescott Hillclimb bitter on draught with Cider & Lager in cans. Red and White wine by the bottle or glass and soft drinks. All will be for sale at favourable prices. Nibbles and simple Bistro-style food will be available for those who want it at £5 per portion but food purchase is not obligatory. Free entry - come and go as you like. Cash only please

The aim is to enjoy ourselves in a friendly village environment as though the F&H was open. Along the way we’d like to discuss tactics and to raise funds for the campaign.

Just to be clear, and in the light of the unpleasant scenes surrounding Jackie Harding’s attempts to attend the last meeting, this event is a social event being run for supporters of the campaign to rescue the Fox and Hounds. As those solely responsible for our village being denied our pub the proprietors of the Fox and Hounds’ and their families are not welcome and will be refused admittance.

http://savegreatwolfordpub.co.uk

There will be a Parish Council Meeting on Tuesday 8th November 2016 in the church at 8.00 pm.

This is a public meeting and all are invited to attend. Public participation is at the discretion of the Chair. If you have specific items you wish to raise please advise the Clerk beforehand.

Agenda

1. Apologies for absence.
2. Minutes of the previous meeting held on 14^th September 2016.
3. Matters arising if not covered on the agenda.
4. Future of Little Wolford Parish Meeting.
5. Village community defibrillator.
6. Provision of dog waste bins.
7. Fox and Hounds pub.
8. Planning matters: to consider the following application: (i) Oak Hill House (formerly The Vicarage): single storey extensions, conversion of existing garage and aesthetical alterations including rendering of existing property and replacement of existing windows.
9. Correspondence
10. Financial matters, including approach from Village Hall trustees (letter dated 10^th October attached)..
11. Any other business.
12. Date of next meeting.

The Fox and Hounds Inn at Great Wolford in Warwickshire is still widely advertised on the Web. If you’ve come to this page hoping to visiting this “Quintessential English Inn” then I’m afraid you’re too late.

The lovely, historical old interior was torn out by the new owners in 2015. As you may have read in pre-2015 reviews, this once-lovely and successful pub in the North Cotswolds was built around 1540 and has had a great reputation for B&B accommodation and great food for many years. The current owners closed the Pub in the Summer of 2016 having failed to continue the business’s former success saying that it wasn’t financially viable and that they were going to live in it as a house and apply for change of use .

Local people are campaigning to get the pub open again and to prevent its change of use and loss as the community centre of this small village. If you’d like to learn more about this, please visit savegreatwolfordpub.co.uk

If you’re thinking of booking a B&B room at the Fox and Hounds Inn don’t be under any illusion that you’ll be staying at a lively, characterful village pub - you won’t. As the ex-landlady shouted to visitors arriving at a recent meeting about rescuing the pub:

“You’re wasting your time. You’ll never get your pub back”

2014 - 2016

If you’d like to dine, drink or stay in the Great Wolford area and are searching for one of the wonderful local village pubs that offer a very warm welcome and cherishes its position at the heart of its local community, here are two great options:

The Red Lion at Long Compton

t: 01608 684 221 - w: http://www.redlion-longcompton.co.uk/

The Norman Knight at Whichford

t: 01608 684 621 - e: [email protected] - w: http://thenormanknight.co.uk

IF YOU ARE NOT RECEIVING THIS NEWSLETTER BY EMAIL AND WOULD PREFER TO DO SO, PLEASE EMAIL THE CHAIRMAN WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS SO THAT FUTURE NEWSLETTERS CAN BE SENT ELECTRONICALLY

The last Parish Council Meeting was held on 14^th September, 4 members of the council were present, apologies were received from Paul Riley.

Little Wolford Village Meeting: following our discussion at the previous council meeting and further discussion at this meeting we decided not to involve ourselves at this time with any changes in Little Wolford as this might prejudice the long standing position of Little Wolford as an independent unit with a village meeting .

Village Community defibrillator: we have now received the go-ahead from BT that the phone box is available for positioning the defibrillator unit and this should be in fitted shortly. We will be running some classes on the use of this unit and some basic first aid through the winter.

The Fox and Hounds: the pub has now been registered as an Asset of Community Value. Unfortunately the pub now seems to be permanently closed. There may be more information on the independent website, www.savegreatwolfordpub.co.uk.

Planning: Wolford House, Great Wolford Road, we again raised concerns about the access to the new building. The planned access coming through Wolford Lodge is acceptable but the alternative access along the track coming out at the corner is potentially very dangerous and this opinion was passed on to the District Council.

Stirling House, single story extension and replacement garage etc and changes to the gateway , the council made no representations, likewise the felling of a horse chestnut tree at Jasmine Cottage.

Correspondence: there was little correspondence of interest only the following information from Western Power.

Western Power report that the 105 number is now live and can be used to report power cuts and dangerous electrical situations and to get information on any ongoing power cuts. This is a national reporting number for electrical situations.

The next Parish Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday 8 November in the Church at 8.00pm

Your Parish Council Chair: Lynn Mathias, 01608 674247, [email protected]
Councillors: Steve Duck, Jennifer Green, Paul Riley, Lynn Bryan
Parish Clerk: Janet Piller, 01608 674396,[email protected]

On Friday October 21st (tomorrow) there will be an open meeting at Great Wolford Village Hall to launch the campaign to rescue the Fox and Hounds. Starting at 7pm there will be mulled wine, soft drinks and hot food, all provided at no charge.

We aim to keep this informal but also to have serious discussions about our plans so just bring your own drinks and lots of ideas about how to get our pub back.

If you’d like to download a copy of this poster to show your support for the campaign just click on the button below
 
Click HERE  
 
 
There is a new campaignWebsite laying out the problems with the Fox and Hounds and showing the latest news. Do visit it - we’d welcome your comments and suggestions!

http://www.savegreatwolfordpub.co.uk

FISH & CHIPS and BINGO

Saturday 22nd October at 7.00 pm

Little Wolford Village Hall

£10 per person

A really good friendly night out with a first class fish & chips supper and cash prize bingo

Bring your own drinks and we’ll provide the glasses

in aid of St. Michael & All Angels Church

To book contact:

Janet Piller (674 396), John Wrench (674 389), Ann McKenna (674 009)

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE GREAT WOLFORD PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY 14^th SEPTEMBER 2016 IN THE CHURCH

PRESENT: Councillor Mrs. Lynn Mathias in the chair and Councillors Mrs. Jennifer Green, Mr. Steve Duck and Mrs. Lynn Bryan plus the Clerk Mrs. Janet Piller. Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mr. Paul Riley. There were eleven members of the public present.

MINUTES: The Minutes of the meeting held on 13^th July 2016 were approved and signed.

There were no matters arising.

FUTURE OF LITTLE WOLFORD PARISH AND PARISH MEETING: The Chairman outlined the current situation and after further discussion, following the initial consideration of this topic at the previous meeting, it was agreed that the Parish Council’s response to the paper dated 17^th May 2016 from the Chairman of Little Wolford Parish Meeting would be that the Parish Council would not involve itself in any possible change to the longstanding position in Little Wolford, particularly as it was felt that any steps taken now might prejudice the preferred option of Little Wolford remaining an independent unit. Therefore Clerk to inform Little Wolford Parish Meeting Chairman that no action would be taken at present by Great Wolford Parish Council.

VILLAGE COMMUNITY DEFIBRILLATOR: A written update was received from Councillor Riley. It was noted that plans to adopt the BT telephone kiosk (where the defibrillator would be installed) were continuing and also that training would be provided free of charge for a limited number of people.

VILLAGE PUB: The Chairman reported that consideration of the application submitted in early June to Stratford District Council (Technical and Community Services Dept) to place the pub on the Community Asset Register had been delayed by the presence of a “rogue” website containing vitriolic anonymous comment about the pub. This had now been removed and it was anticipated that SDC’s response to the application would be received shortly. It was noted that the pub was currently closed. The Chairman acknowledged a letter on the future of the pub received from Mr. Peter Watson and invited contributions from the floor on proposals on how the pub could regain its viability. It was agreed that with some basic changes, e.g. full-time hands-on management, reliable opening hours, informative website, provision of draught beer and meals, programme of pub activities, kerb appeal etc, there was no reason to suppose it could not return to its former central position in village life. The owners of the pub, who were accompanied by a planning consultant, were invited to respond but declined and, asked if the pub was going to re-open, their reply was that this was unlikely. It was also understood that an application may be made by them for change of use for the building. The Chairman undertook to convey the views of those present to SDC. The current loss to the village of such a popular and valued village asset was unanimously regretted and it was agreed that every effort be made to ensure its survival.

PLANNING: (a) The following application was considered and it was agreed to make no representations concerning the building work but to raise concerns about the alternative access track being used which formed a potentially dangerous junction with the road between Great Wolford and the A44:

Wolford House, Great Wolford Road: retrospective change of use and alterations to buildings to form a single dwelling.

(b) The following applications were considered and it was agreed to make no representations:

(i) Stirling House: single storey side extensions; erection of open porch extension to front of dwelling; replacement garage and driveway with associated timber entrance gates; glassed canopy to rear kitchen area.

(ii) Jasmine Cottage: felling of horse chestnut tree.

CORRESPONDENCE: The following were reported and noted: (a) A property marking pack (part of WCC’s Stop the Thief campaign) which was available for residents’ use (b) Paper detailing the benefits of membership of WWMALC (membership has been renewed) (c) Report of Shipston/Stour Community Forum meeting on 6^th September d) Details of new, free information telephone number to call in cases of power cuts (to be circulated in next Newsletter) (e) Details from WWMALC of the Local Councils Charter (to be taken forward to next meeting) (f) Other general correspondence and non-essential circulars were noted/tabled and would be circulated to all Councillors for information.

FINANCE: (a) The following payment was unanimously agreed, proposed by Councillor Duck, seconded by Councillor Green: £95 to WALC (annual subscription).

ANY OTHER BUSINESS: (a) Following discussion on the on-going problem of dog waste, it was agreed to apply to the Village Fund for a grant for the purchase of two further dog bins, one bin being already in position on the green outside the churchyard wall. The proposed two new positions would be at the entrance point to The Ridgeway and at the point where the public footpath exits between Carters Leaze terrace and The Leys. Clerk to submit application.

DATE OF NEXT PARISH COUNCIL MEETING: It was agreed that the date of the next meeting would be Tuesday 8^th November 2016 at 8.00 pm in the church.

Fox and Hounds Pub, update at 3 October 2016

This is an interim newsletter to cover the current position of the pub. The usual newsletter will be sent out a fortnight or so before the next Parish Council Meeting.

As many of you will be aware the Parish Council applied for the Pub to become an Asset of Community Value at the beginning of June this year. I am pleased to say that while I have recently been away Stratford District Council has considered the nomination and decided that the Fox and Hounds will be included on the list of assets of community value. The listing only relates to the element of the building used as a public house and not to any residential parts of the building. The listing imposes restrictions on the owner’s rights to dispose of this asset. The owner may ask the Local Authority to review this decision.

At a recent Parish Council meeting it was understood that the current owners might apply for change of use for the building. While I was away I asked our Clerk, Janet Piller to contact Stratford District Council to find out the position re such an application. SDC were unable to comment on any application but did point out that were such an application to be made the Parish Council would be contacted for comments and there would be an opportunity for the general public to comment at that point. Details of any such application would also appear on the SDC website. The Parish Council has received no notification of any application at this date. If the Parish Council receives a notification re change of use this will be put on the village website.

Registering a building as an asset of community value does not mean that the owner is under any obligation to sell or to re-open the business, it will only become relevant should the pub come up for sale at which point the village via the Parish Council will be given an opportunity to arrange to put in an offer for the business, the owners are under no obligation to sell to the Parish Councils nominee.

The next Parish Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday 8^th November 2016 at 8.00pm in the Church

Your Parish Council Chair: Lynn Mathias, 01608 674247, [email protected]
Councillors: Steve Duck, Jennifer Green, Paul Riley, Lynn Bryan
Parish Clerk: Janet Piller, 01608 674396,[email protected]

Stratford District Council has approved the application to add our local pub to the register of Assets of Community Value joining several other pubs in Warwickshire whose communities feel that they are under threat.

Those of you who could make it to the last Parish Council meeting will have heard Lynn Mathias tell the meeting that, in response to SDC’s request for a response to the ACV application, the current owners had responded that the pub was no longer commercially viable and that they would be applying to the planners for change of use.

I think that anyone who used the pub regularly will realise that the Fox and Hounds IS commercially viable, just not when it is run the way it has been for the past 12 or so months; in a manner that couldn’t appear more carefully designed for the business to fail.

Many villagers will remember Wendy Veale who owned the Fox and Hounds for several years. Peter Watson forwarded this letter from Wendy who is keen that it be published here. I think it encapsulates beautifully the concern for and understanding of the local community that any Publican requires to make a success of a village pub. More tellingly Wendy illustrates very clearly that the Pub IS perfectly viable and backs this up with hard facts and figures.

Re: Possible closure of the Award-winning ‘Fox and Hounds Inn’

(circa 1540)

Great Wolford, Warwickshire

Apologies for this lengthy document but it is important that decision makers and the current owners understand why I – and so many others – do not want to lose The Fox and Hounds and why we are frustrated and sad that this viable and much-loved business is seemingly being wiped out with little effort and no evidence of its undoubted trading potential.

Background

It was my privilege to own and ‘care take’ this unique and well-known village Inn in from 2000 – 2003.

I say ‘care take’ because the Fox and Hounds is a very special Inn: it is situated in a beautiful Cotswolds village location and is unique. As soon as one stoops to enter through the ‘coffin’ door of this 17^th Century, Grade II-listed building, one is transported back in time. It has a rich history, exudes candle-lit warmth and its walls ‘ooze’ atmosphere. Its age meant, of course, that there were 21^st-century challenges in running this Inn (with rooms) commercially and successfully.

Until recently, The Fox and Hounds had an uninterrupted fine reputation in the area. (I have known it for over 30 years and many other locals for even longer). I felt I could never ‘possess’ such a unique historic hostelry – but could only, fleetingly in its history, look after it and then hand over the mantle to ensure the Inn remained the hub of the surrounding village communities for many years to come.

My reason for purchasing the inn from landlords Graham and Annie Seddon was simply because it was a magnet for the locals, a much-loved and envied example of a rural business at its best. The Fox and Hounds was also (and still can be) a ‘destination pub’ with customers from all over the West Midlands (indeed regulars came from Solihull and Birmingham just for Sunday lunch) and the Cotswolds, one of the largest Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the country.

An award-winning and successful pub: During my time at The Fox and Hounds it was an Award winner of The Good Pub Guide Warwickshire Fine Dining Pub of the Year for two consecutive years. It was also featured in the London Evening Standard for its famous Inn sign, painted by a local artist David Player, depicting The Hunt v. The Establishment. I also had my chefs featured for their recipes in a national magazine. As a self-employed food writer and product development innovator, I loved using my passion for food and fine culinary detail, and I enjoyed finding and promoting local artisan food.

The pub was always buzzing. One example is a late-Autumn night of ‘hailing in’ the new season with Herefordshire hops strung up onto the beams and a ceilidh, locally produced beer and a simple Ploughman’s supper. This was more than enough to pay the overheads and employ locals and there would be 50 or more locals having a cracking good time. Another example is an early evening Hallowe’en party for village children with goulash, jellies and spider sandwiches and bat stew, whilst mums and dads would enter into the spirit at an early bar.

For years, revellers who had watched the local village fireworks earlier would stand in front of the Inn by a brazier, enjoying hot stew and mulled wine. And Christmas and New Year’s Day and Eve were magical, candlelit dining experiences.

All this and more is still there to be had for the taking – as long as one is prepared to work at it and network with the many entrepreneurial businesses around and about.

I decided to sell the Fox and Hounds while the Inn was making an excellent profit. Its value had increased too, based on the growth in sales of food and also the establishment of 3 letting rooms. Although this was early days, these had the potential of turning over £50K - £60K p.a. – aside from the additional revenue staying guests would bring into the Bar and dining room.

Here are some serious commercial reasons why The Fox and Hounds was – and still is – viable and should not be allowed to be purposely run down with little or no effort to manage it as a going concern:

Firstly, some facts and figures from the period that I ran the pub: 2000 – 2003

A cosy 40 covers: this gives it charm and uniqueness (I did not operate it as a fast food outlet), so:

Turnover on average @ £7K weekly with revenue increasing @ £10K over Cheltenham Festivals week and December.

Using a stock-taker on a quarterly period ensured we hit our 65% profit margin on food and drink. So our annual turnover exceeded well over £300K. (Closed on a Monday except Bank Holidays for weekly deep clean)

Saturday lunch covers (noon – 2.30pm) @ 30 – 40 weekly aside from custom at the bar and summer eating outside.

Saturday night covers (6.30pm – 10.00pm as per demand) @ 65- 80, sometimes doing 3 sittings over an evening starting at 6pm.

Sunday lunch covers (noon – 3pm) @ 60 – 70 weekly dropping to 35-40 in quieter season.

Mid-week lunches covers (12.00 – 3.00pm) (made up of local businesses from neighbouring market towns and retired couples) @ 20 – 30 daily.

Bed and Breakfast @ £30K in first year of advertising and a lot more scope for deals and breakaways linked in with local experiences e.g. clay pigeon shooting, falconry centre experiences, classic car hire.

A positive effect on the local economy
Based on our strong revenue, I was able to employ 2 full-time chefs (total £60K p.a.) and approximately 6 part-time local people on a 52-week basis, which bought income and employment into the village and gave local village teenagers valuable work experience.

The business supported local suppliers from the butcher to several local breweries, a local vintner, bakers, florist, garden nursery, laundry, fishmonger and a produce supplier. We received daily and twice- weekly supplies and this successful two-way relationship with suppliers had a good knock-on effect on the local economy.

Successful local and business events
I constantly marketed and networked with local businesses, offering a range of local events, including: unique, bespoke dining experiences for Christmas parties; sell-out Christmas Day lunches and Boxing Day brunches; family and pre-wedding parties; Valentine’s Nights; sympathetic funeral gatherings and Wakes; special private birthday parties and events for children. The pub was also a private meetings venue before lunchtime opening; and you could hold breakfast meetings. We held pre-Race day brunches; offered prizes for local fund-raising events and made dates for local musicians and traditional Morris dancing. The local Hunt met at the Fox and Hounds, drawing crowds and creating a great atmosphere – and this was before opening time! It was therefore a well-known Inn for its events as well as its food and ambience.

The Fox and Hounds stocked over 130 different whiskies, making it famous and providing good publicity through magazine articles. We held special whisky tastings and dining evenings (also Burns Night with a piper). Guests used to work their way along the alphabet order of the lined up bottles! This kind of foresight, combined with a commercial ‘hat’, has sadly been lost.

Great location and year around Cotswold Tourism:
The Fox and Hounds has all-year-around tourism right on its doorstep – the area is a big favourite with the Americans and Japanese as well as with the British for ‘staycations’. After London and York, the Cotswolds is the next biggest magnet for tourism in the England. A local company has made the most of this by showing car-load after car-load of visitors hidden gems such as Great Tew and the Slaughters. There is an opportunity for the Fox and Hounds landlords to offer lunch or afternoon tea at this ancient inn with its local ale, artisan food, low beams, flagstone floors, an inglenook fireplace large enough to dance in…etc. Not to use this kind of business networking is a missed opportunity. Small companies in this area actively work together and help each another.

The Fox and Hounds could become part of the Cotswold tourism industry for a small investment, and benefit from its support and promotional activity. Just look at the Award Winning Horse and Groom, at Bourton-on-the-Hill. This pub was at one time applying for change of use because locals were apathetic. After new owners took over and gave it new impetus, it is now one of the best local Inns in the area and it is hard to book a table on a weekend for some weeks in advance.

The Fox and Hounds is in perfect countryside for cycling and walking and on the main London to Hereford Great Western railway line. It is easy to build packages around this, attracting city weekenders with bike-hire on the doorstep and guides for walking, returning to the pub for a candlelit dinner.

The Fox and Hounds was a regular stop-off for classic car enthusiasts, an attraction for locals to come and watch and join in. It is easy to contact these companies again and offer a great ‘pit-stop’ in the beautiful winding Warwickshire lanes.

Local trade from local villages: The vibrant and popular villages of Great Wolford, Little Wolford, Barton on the Heath as well as Kitebrook / Evenlode are all a stone’s throw away for locals to drop in.

Potential trade from fellow B&B owners:
I am aware of the huge potential for business that exists from the network of local B&Bs.

This is because I now own The Old School B&B in Little Compton. I set this up from scratch, by sympathetically refurbishing a Victorian school and now bob between no. 1 and no. 3 # 499 Cotswold B&B’s on TripAdvisor and am at the moment No.1# 28 @ B&B’s in Moreton in Marsh. In the 9 years I have been in business, I have been accredited with 5 Star Gold accommodation rating, a Cycling and Walkers Award and Breakfast Award from Visit Britain. Aside from commitment and focus, of course, I have to pay a subscription but the benefits and advertising pays back.

With a syndicate of other local B&B’s (The Fox and Hounds could have been one of them), I refer guests to other B&Bs (including local Inns) when I have no rooms available. I also send guests to local Inns within a 10 minute / 5-mile distance to dine. On average, I personally send on approximately 1500 guests every year to eat at two or three local Inns. Assuming a per-head spend of £30, this amounts to a substantial sum that just one B&B can direct to a reputable friendly pub. Multiply this by 6 or so B&B’s in the area and the business opportunity is huge.

In conclusion …
During my three years at the pub, I constantly needed to reinvest in this Grade-II listed building by using local tradesman to completely rewire and redecorate it. This @1640 property needs to be lived in, kept warm and well maintained, otherwise it will quickly fall into disrepair.

The outside of the building reflects the business as a whole: the current neglected exterior and landscaping is off-putting to potential customers. It looks sad, neglected, unloved – yet is so simple to rectify and bounce back to make it welcoming and encourage custom.

I also understand that the current owners have ripped out the main features that set this old Inn apart from all others in the area – its unique and original bar and woodwork, old settles and benches – and that they have installed a juke box and a TV screen. Sadly too the new landlords did not consider the impact on the locals. The one main feature that set this Inn apart from all other competition, even if all serving wonderful hospitality and food, was stepping inside and back in time and not just another gastropub.

The website has almost no information on it and the infamous pub sign has now been replaced with one not in keeping. I also understand that the opening hours are haphazard and the Inn does not employ staff or chefs to maintain previous standards or encourage new business. It appears that the current owners have no interest in striving to reclaim its once-strong reputation. Friends have driven there for lunch only to find it closed. This is no way to run a successful business or a service to the community – and it is essential that this trade is such a service.

Whilst locals have always been loyal to the Inn and incredibly generous in their custom, to run the Fox and Hounds successfully demands focus, 100% commitment and a very commercial ‘hat’. It also needs a sympathetic feel for this style of Inn, combined with a knowledge and understanding of who its target customers are and how to set out its stall accordingly.

Lastly, whilst not relevant to the possible closure of this Inn I have been working with a professional couple who have a highly acclaimed restaurant with letting rooms in the north Cotswolds and are desperately looking for an establishment to invest into and move their very well-known local ‘brand’ to. They, as just one example, would bring much to Great Wolford as well as their following of existing custom - a young but experienced eagerness to expand with existing proof that they put 100% focus into their current business and work it around a young family too. These are the type of people Great Wolford need to carry on that mantle.

Wendy Veale

19^th Sept. 2016

As you may know, it was a bad night for the village at the Parish Council meeting yesterday.

The progress of the application to Stratford District Council to have the pub listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) was on the agenda. The owners of the Fox and Hounds and a.n.other were present. The Chair explained that the PC had received a response from the District Council. The most significant part of this was that the owners of the pub had responded to the application by declaring that the pub was no longer financially viable and that they would be seeking change of use on it.

The subsequent discussion was fairly one sided with all agreeing to proceed with a ACV. Asked if they would like to say something all three of the “pub group” declined and just sat there taking notes in handwriting so small I couldn’t read it! Tom Baker asked the a.n.o if she was their solicitor and she replied that she was a planning consultant. Di Watson asked Steve outright if they intended to reopen the pub and he replied very quietly “Unlikely”. Chairman asked him to repeat and he did so, hopefully this is minuted. At the end of the topic they just got up and walked out.

I’d be happy to join a fighting group but in the meantime I list some contacts to whom we should all write or email to express our disappointment and dismay at the unavoidable closure of a 500 year old pub. Not in any particular order but when contacting anyone I would recommend cc’ing in the Parish Clerk so the parish council has a sizeable file which cannot be ignored.

Janet Pope has already started the ball rolling by emailing our local ward councillor:

Stephen Gray.
2 Furlong Meadow
Shipston on Stour
CV36 4DL
01608 662673
[email protected]

Also try the leader of Stratford District Council:

Chris Saint
Jasmine Cottage
Tredington
Shipston on Stour
CV36 4NJ
01608 664048
[email protected]

Our Local MP is:

Nadhim Zahawi
3 Trinity Street
Stratfor4d upon Avon
CV37 6BL
[email protected]

The Parish Clerk:
Janet Pillar
01608 674396
[email protected]

Parish Chairman:

Lynn Mathias
01608 674396

Lynn is also our conduit for letters to the Link magazine [email protected] Letters for next month’s link should go off today or tomorrow to meet the deadline date.

I also had a chat to Baggie Saunders, landlord of the Horseshoes and the Black Horse in Shipston, who has been drinking in The Fox and Hounds probably for as long as I have. His recommendation Is to contact CAMRA, mentioned by Geoff. He has already emailed the local rep who is a bit of a campaigning firebrand, according to Baggie. He is:

Jim Sargeant
[email protected]

If sending emails I think we should copy our emails not only to the parish clerk but also to one central email rather than copying to everyone every time. Could you set something up on your web site, Charles? Can I also suggest you email any friends you’ve made over the years in the pub to make them aware of what is happening.

Hey ho, I’d normally pop up to the pub for one now, but I can’t.

Peter Watson

I think Peter’s suggestion to set up a central repository to which copies of relevant outgoing correspondence may be sent is very sound. I have created the following email address to which these may be sent: [email protected]

I’m a member of CAMRA and have been in contact with Jim Sargeant, the local branch and the national office regarding the situation at the Fox and Hounds since the Spring. I have, today, updated each with the developments mentioned here

I will be making changes to the village website to help people to stay informed about what’s happening. Any comments, queries or articles for the Website may be sent to me.

Charles Pearmain
[email protected]