You may have noticed that very sadly the Seven Tuns still remains closed since November last year. In the intervening period the landlord, Simon Willson-White, has been actively trying to sell the pub’s lease.
However despite Simon’s best efforts and the interest shown by, amongst a number of others parties, including the landlord of the Bell at Sapperton and a young couple from Bibury, the pub’s owners, the Wellington Pub Company (WPC) have not given their approval to the sale of the lease.
In parallel to Simon’s efforts the Seven Tuns Action Group (STAG) have been working on an attempt for the community to purchase the freehold partly funded through submitting an application the Government’s Community Ownership Fund (COF). This fund has been successfully used by communities elsewhere to buy their local pub.
Also in parallel the Parish Council have been playing their part by trying to have the Seven Tuns registered as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). After an initial rejection a new application has been submitted to Cotswold District Council (CDC). CDC’s decision is awaited. Successful registration gives the community protection against the pub being sold without warning.
So where are we now? The situation was discussed at July’s Parish Council meeting where it was reported to the meeting in broad terms that:
Simon Willson-White has paid the lease to the end of August but will pay no more. He said there was no evidence of the condition of the property on the full repairing lease. Two villagers want to negotiate a twenty year lease or the freehold. Simon thinks he owns the fixtures and fittings. An informal valuation of the pub has given a value £500-650k. WPC think it is in excess of £1m.
Please note that STAG has not itself verified these reported statements at the meeting and cannot confirm their veracity or otherwise.
Therefore, in summary, the situation is that there is clear interest in taking over the lease or freehold of the Seven Tuns. It is now up to The Wellington Pub Company to decide if they are prepared to agree to this happening. It is not clear what will happen if they do not.