Knoydart pub (The Old Forge, Inverie) - community share offer

[sarabande]

The magnificent Knoydart pub (The Old Forge, Inverie, Loch Nevis) is launching a buyout funding project which is slightly different from similar buyouts e.g. The Old Ship at Cawsand.

Locals within the Knoydart area can subscribe at £75, but "outcomers" need to put together a minimum of£10000.

Having been in contact with the people more or less from the start, I am proposing that YBW put together a group application, and I will start the funding with £750.


The website with all the details is here

www.theoldforgecbs.org/invest

Link to pics

Old Forge inverie - Bing images


If there is a lawyer / finance expert with experience in this sort of group application, I would be very grateful for a bit of a hand.

Many thanks

 

[mainsail1]

Sounds a lovely idea but if you read the prospectus I for one think of Unicorns and fairies. The community is 120 people and the only access from outside is on foot or by boat. I would love to be proved wrong in five years time so good luck to them.

 

[Sandy]

I've been following this with interest on FB. There are some pretty strict rules around who can invest. My own local pub has 100 shareholders and I'm one. Sadly no free beer!

 

[longjohnsilver]

I've been following this with interest on FB. There are some pretty strict rules around who can invest. My own local pub has 100 shareholders and I'm one. Sadly no free beer!

Which pub is that Sandy?

 

[Sandy]

Which pub is that Sandy?

PM sent.

 

[seivadnehpets]

I tend to arrive in Inverie unscheduled when I get flushed out of the hills, I find the pub very friendly but I imagine trade would be sporadic as visitors will keep away when the weather is good. I can recommend the walk in from Glenfinnan even though Glenfinnan has been utterly spoiled by a massive new car park which is apparently needed because of the droves of tourists.

 

[Ink]

From what I heard through the grapevine of the locals starting their own pub in a shed across the road because they didn't like the Forge Inn's owner. Good luck to anyone buying into that place.

Ink

 

[Quandary]

If they can create the ambience it had when the Robertsons? ran it, no problem. There are two ferries shuttling back and foward from Mallaig all day not to mention the thirsty walkers coming off the hills. Might not be as seasonal as you think, what else can the locals do in winter?

 

[Stork_III]

Don't know the area, but the business model is based on 20,000 meal and 6000 bar only customers /year for a net profit of £60,000 pa. Des that stack up with the visitor numbers?

 

[DaveS]

The magnificent Knoydart pub (The Old Forge, Inverie, Loch Nevis) is launching a buyout funding project which is slightly different from similar buyouts e.g. The Old Ship at Cawsand.

Locals within the Knoydart area can subscribe at £75, but "outcomers" need to put together a minimum of£10000.

Having been in contact with the people more or less from the start, I am proposing that YBW put together a group application, and I will start the funding with £750.


The website with all the details is here

www.theoldforgecbs.org/invest

Link to pics

Old Forge inverie - Bing images


If there is a lawyer / finance expert with experience in this sort of group application, I would be very grateful for a bit of a hand.

Many thanks

PM sent.

 

[dgadee]

From what I heard through the grapevine of the locals starting their own pub in a shed across the road because they didn't like the Forge Inn's owner. Good luck to anyone buying into that place.

Ink

It notes that in the documents. Keep up at the back!

 

[Deleted member 36384]

From what I heard through the grapevine of the locals starting their own pub in a shed across the road because they didn't like the Forge Inn's owner. Good luck to anyone buying into that place.

Ink

From The Business Plan https://887d0ce9-a3e3-4ca0-a942-f4a...d/b4fd23_75bde9fd1329479eb2b912b8fc135fac.pdf

In this context it should not therefore be seen as surprising that members of the community would spontaneously create a ‘table’ at which they can have a drink and social banter and that very quickly this should be converted into a small shelter complete with decorations. This should not be seen as a comic outcome of a fallout between pub landlord and some locals (although even locals can laugh at the absurdity of the situation). Rather, in the context of Inverie it should be seen as the desperate actions of a community trying to recreate an arena for proper community social interaction.

There is a sense of desperation in the prospectus, that the community is shrinking. The plan lacks imagination and I wonder if that is represented by the community commitment: first zoom meeting was hardly a majority of the community and second zoom meeting had even less attending.

The plan does demonstrate that the The Forge has had negative impact on the community and compared to other areas visitors into the area are down.

My overall impression is that they want money to benefit their community, there is no wow factor that says, I would want to be part of that. It singularly fails to describe how the place will attract more visitors, except to visit the pub. The environmental credentials are underwhelming and that could be a major selling point and attraction. Also a place like that requires a bunk house, for low cost accommodation that attracts the young and adventurous who like to drink. Where are the ideas for the community events to attract visitors? It does have some stunning accommodation to rent Visit Knoydart - Self Catering Accommodation

I wish it great success, and I have a feeling it is likely to work. A friend raised £25k through crowdfunding to fit out a shop, in a local community and sell his speciality bacons. I was doubtful but it worked well, he raised more than his target and his shop has just opened. Could it be that the community is just too small and too tied to the existing businesses and too isolated to make it work?

 

[Ink]

It notes that in the documents. Keep up at the back!

Yeh. I can read too.

Who in their right mind would invest. Five or so of the locals don't agree with what is going on in their very small closed community so go in a huff and stand under a shed and drink their carry out rather than work with an owner with restricted options.

Total small community thinking.
Smells of Rum. The island.

Ink

 

[penfold]

Yeh. I can read too.

Who in their right mind would invest. Five or so of the locals don't agree with what is going on in their very small closed community so go in a huff and stand under a shed and drink their carry out rather than work with an owner with restricted options.

Total small community thinking.
Smells of Rum. The island.

Ink

A lumbering bureaucratic monolith that's insensitive to the needs of the population? Or a belgian with a chip on both shoulders? Eigg seems to be doing better than its sister in the cocktail isles.

 

[Ink]

A lumbering bureaucratic monolith that's insensitive to the needs of the population? Or a belgian with a chip on both shoulders? Eigg seems to be doing better than its sister in the cocktail isles.

Eigg-nog?

Ink

 

[Mark-1]

Sounds a lovely idea but if you read the prospectus I for one think of Unicorns and fairies. The community is 120 people and the only access from outside is on foot or by boat. I would love to be proved wrong in five years time so good luck to them.

The place has been heaving whenever I've been there. (Except one early spring weekday) Being the remotest place in Mainland Britain attracts Tourists by the thousand.

It's like Hills: If you wanna get away from the crowds you need to go to the second most remote place in mainland Britain not the first!

 

[steve yates]

Yeh. I can read too.

Who in their right mind would invest. Five or so of the locals don't agree with what is going on in their very small closed community so go in a huff and stand under a shed and drink their carry out rather than work with an owner with restricted options.

Total small community thinking.
Smells of Rum. The island.

Ink

Or an overbearing owner causing locals to vote with their feet? I've met him, and didnt like him. There used to be a very good bunkhouse nearby, has it gone?

 

[Ink]

Or an overbearing owner causing locals to vote with their feet? I've met him, and didnt like him. There used to be a very good bunkhouse nearby, has it gone?

I think what I was intending to say was that it doesn't matter who runs the place, a small minority will still be able upset the apple cart and drink their cans of Tennents and thumb their noses.
No matter the good intentions of a new manager /owner if you cross the locals it's curtains.

Ink

 

[oldmanofthehills]

My self and navigators are shareholders in a pub in Bath. I expect a return on our investment in perhaps 300 years if the going is good.

Its investing in the community for long term benefit, and chairman sharply told those share holders who asked if they got preference, the customers come first - its still a business.

I enjoyed drink at The Forge several winters ago and the landlord seemed friendly , but know nothing of any current dispute at Knoydart or Rum and might not get back there for a year or more.

Eigg seemed very vibrant and will call in again when we try and finish our tour of the small island as next summers long cruise

 

[davidpbo]

It's like Hills: If you wanna get away from the crowds you need to go to the second most remote place in mainland Britain not the first!

My Great nephew mentioned similar today. Went to Snowdonia when they were queuing to get to the top of Snowdon and went up hill next to it and met one other person.