Free the Motto
Act now to save our Prince’s Motto pub by making it a community-owned Free House
We are on our way to making The Prince’s Motto Barrow Gurney a community-owned pub.
The Story So Far
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A group of villagers from Barrow Gurney in North Somerset banded together in June 2024 to save their local pub, the Prince’s Motto.
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The pub has been at the centre of village life for at least 150 years. It was the favourite watering hole for the navvies who built Bristol’s main reservoirs at Barrow tanks. But it has been shut for six months, and it is currently up for sale after going through five landlords in six years.
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Now the villagers aim to buy the Prince’s Motto to ‘free’ it from its tied ownership with a pub company. They plan to turn it into a community-owned pub modelled on others across the country that have been rescued by local people. So far, these pubs have had a huge success rate: 98% are still in business – 174 of them at the last count.
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At a well-attended and overwhelmingly positive meeting in the Village Hall on 23rd October 2024 , Barrow Gurney Steering Group launched their vision to create a family-friendly venue that is
...opening it as a café in the mornings offering coffee and croissants, with tea and cakes in the afternoon. They believe it can become a vibrant focus for the community while also offering refreshments for cyclists and walkers, as well as great food.
Steering Group Chair Andy Robbins and Vice Chair James Durie and their wives Ros and Kirsty attending the Plunkett Foundation launch of their annual review of Community Pubs
With advice from the Plunkett Foundation, the steering group has drawn up a plan to restructure the pub’s finances, backed by a long-term business plan which would allow a new landlord to make a decent living and rebuild the pub’s reputation.
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The village has now set up a community benefit society which seeks to raise £200,000 through a community share offer launched early in 2025 together with a further £250,000 from a Crowdfunder appeal and Grant sourcing, with the funds being used to buy and update the pub/cafe. The campaign team are now actively working to secure investors.
The Public Meeting
23 October 2024
Andy Robbins addresses a full house in the Village Hall
Mary James MBE shares her knowledge on the history of the Motto. Mary’s grandmother was landlady at the pub for 60 years (more in the history section).
Our new local North Somerset MP Sadik Al-Hassan sent a message of support. Click here to see the video message.
Chair Andy Robbins says: ‘Like so many country pubs, the Prince’s Motto has been struggling with low profit levels for years. For well over 150 years it served the people of Barrow Gurney and south Bristol. It used to be famous for its beers and its warm welcome, but recently we’ve seen a succession of landlords come and go, unable to make it work financially.
“It would be a tragedy for us all if it closed for good - which is why we need to re-invent the Motto, put it on a firmer financial footing and win back its loyal customers.
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In the right hands, and with the support of the community we are confident we can give our pub a new lease of life.”
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Anyone wishing to contact the group for more information or to offer help or financial support, can contact them at freethemotto@gmail.com.
Here's why we know it can work
Community-owned pub businesses have:
A Great Start!
At the end of the public meeting the attendees gave an almost universal show of support by a show of hands.
Since then, the community has stepped up with pledges of support for a future share offering (as at end November) to the tune of a very satisfying £120,000 and rising.
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This level of community commitment ahead of the actual launch of a formal Share Offer Scheme represents a massive vote of confidence and will be invaluable as discussions with prospective grant providers begin in the near future.
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We are a small parish, so the sum raised so far is all the more impressive. However, we need to spread the word as it’s vital that we receive more pledges of investment. If you’ve yet to pledge, please don’t delay – every contribution matters. Also encourage as many of your friends and neighbours as possible to join us in saving the Motto from permanent closure.
We still need your help
Pledge Now
Formal Public Share Offer Scheme coming soon...
Progress
Steps to buying the pub
After several temporary closures as 5 different tenants left the pub in 6 years, Barrow Gurney Parish Council submitted an application to North Somerset Council to register The Princes Motto as an Asset of Community Value. This application was approved and a steering group of 14 individuals came together to progress a potential community purchase of the existing business. So what was involved?
1. Community Input
We've carried out a village survey and a public meeting but there's much more to do and to learn. Please sign up to the mailing list below to stay updated.
2. Business Plan
We’ve created a Business Plan and sought pledges to invest in a Community Benefit Society that has been set up with a view to purchasing the pub. This plan is now live for you to view.
3. Raise Funds
To buy the pub we’ll raise money through membership shares, grant applications and other fund-raising schemes, which are now live for you to buy – fill out a Pledge Form.
4. Buy & run the pub
Once we’ve got funding and funds we aim to buy the pub, find the right tenant and make it a place the community can be proud of. We will need volunteers to help with refurbishment and then to assist the tenant with ongoing support.
Survey Feedback
February 2024
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Total responses - 111 (received within 3 days of initial notification)
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Responses to "Would You Support The Prince’s Motto Being Safeguarded As A Community Asset"
