Friends of the Elm Tree Inn - Share Offer

Introduction

The Friends of the Elm Tree was founded in April 2024 with the sole mission of bringing The Elm Tree Inn into community ownership. Allowing it to complement the Village Hall and Church to form the heart of the village of Langton Herring for the benefit of walkers, wanderers and wonderers. To achieve this we need to raise at least £300,000 by 1 March 2025.

Our Vision

We have no doubt that our project will succeed (95% of community-owned pubs are still around after 5 years against approximately 50% of new businesses). Why, because of the passion, commitment, ownership and pride that communities have for their projects and seeing their pub thrive.

We will make the Elm Tree Inn the best pub in the area, much like it was in its heyday when you couldn't get through the front door on a Friday or Saturday night. This will be a vibrant place that locals want to visit, to meet friends and to enjoy socialising in an historic setting.

The Elm Tree Inn will be perfect for a variety of groups who love to come to the Fleet and the South Coast Path.  Sunday cyclists can stop for great tea, cake and biscuits on their club cycle rides, families can park their car, go for a circular walk and return for food and drinks that are fairly priced, bird watchers can come back to warm up after a winter watch down on the Fleet and dog walkers can find a place to rest their weary feet in the warm surroundings of the pub; dogs and all. 

In the winter there are cosy snugs with wood-burning stoves to warm up in and in the summer we have a delightful garden to sit out in and relax in tranquil picturesque surroundings. All are welcome and we hope that many will return to find comfort, companionship and joy in The Elm Tree Inn.

Our Team

Our steering group is made up of seven members from the local community and further afield. All had careers in business for many years. Between us we have the range of specialist skills and experience needed to reopen the Elm Tree Inn.

Our Business Case

First off, we have been very lucky as the previous owner carried out an extensive refurbishment of the whole pub and the upstairs 3 bed accommodation to a very high standard. This was completed at the end of the Covid lockdown, and therefore we have a well maintained pub which meets all the current Regulations.

The accommodation would be made available to the tenant as part of their package and will be set at a fair level, which will rise annually in line with the growth of the business. This will give the tenants a good base from which to develop a great business. If they did not want to take up the accommodation, it will become a holiday let to provide an alternative income stream.

As we will own the Elm Tree Inn, we will not be tied to any onerous supply contracts. It will give us the freedom to choose sustainable, local suppliers to allow us to offer customers a traditional pub experience with a contemporary twist.

We have talked to other community pubs who have shared their experience with us. With their help alongside the Plunkett Foundation and a lot of hard work, we have developed a solid business plan which has been thoroughly checked by an accountant who is part of our team. We have also been given advice by an independent brewer and other local publicans who are keen to see the pub open and thrive.

With your help, we can raise the money to buy the freehold of the Elm Tree Inn and get it back to its flourishing best.

Becoming an Owner of the Elm Tree Inn

When you invest in shares you’ll become a member of our society with voting rights, giving you a say in how things are done. You’ll also become an owner of the society's assets alongside other members, meaning you become a co-owner of the Elm Tree Inn.

Elm Tree Inn Share offer

To bring the Elm Tree Inn into community ownership we will eventually need to raise £670k, which allows for the purchase price, working capital and fees incurred during negotiations. This will be through a combination of Donations, Share Capital and if necessary Loans.

We currently have £300k in a combination of money in the bank and outstanding pledges, primarily from the local community. If we can achieve £500k, the current owner has agreed to discuss how and when we will need to raise the outstanding amount.

• Shares are valued at £1 each
• Minimum share subscription per person: £200
• Maximum share subscription per person: £65,000
• Up to 3% interest paid annually from year 3 onwards
• Withdrawal of capital targeted from year 5 onwards
• Total target to be Raised: £670,000

Our aim is open the Elm Tree in Q3 2025. 

To date we have had great press coverage including The Times, Daily Mail, Sunday Express, ITV SW News and Solent Radio. Our aim is to continue with this media coverage during the campaign.

Tax Relief

As The Elm Tree Inn will be run by Tenants we do not believe there is any tax relief under either EIS or SEIS schemes which are recognised by HMRC.

What happens if we don't meet our target?

If we don't meet our target, Crowdfunder will hold any funds raised for a short time to allow us to look for other sources of funding that could make up any shortfall. If we cannot proceed with the project for any reason, then all investments will be refunded to you in full. 

Levels of investment 

£200 (minimum amount) or more  - Cool

This will give you 200 shares or more, membership of the Friends of the Elm Tree Inn Ltd and part ownership of the Elm Tree Inn. You have a say in the running of the pub and its future – one member, one vote.

£1,000 or more – Great 

This will give you 1,000 shares or more, membership of the Friends of the Elm Tree Inn Ltd and part ownership of the Elm Tree Inn. You have a say in the running of the pub and its future – one member, one vote.

£5,000 or more – Fantastic

This will give you 5,000 shares or more, membership of the Friends of the Elm Tree Inn Ltd and part ownership of the Elm Tree Inn. You have a say in the running of the pub and its future – one member, one vote.

£10,000 or more – Magnificent

This will give you 10,000 shares or more, membership of the Friends of the Elm Tree Inn Ltd and part ownership of the Elm Tree Inn. You have a say in the running of the pub and its future – one member, one vote.

£20,000 or more – Awesome

This will give you 20,000 shares or more, membership of the Friends of the Elm Tree Inn Ltd and part ownership of the Elm Tree Inn. You have a say in the running of the pub and its future – one member, one vote.

£65,000 (The maximum) – Your our friend for life

This will give you 65,000 shares or more, membership of the Friends of the Elm Tree Inn Ltd and part ownership of the Elm Tree Inn. You have a say in the running of the pub and its future – one member, one vote.

History

18th-Century Beginnings

The Elm Tree Inn in Langton Herring, Dorset, has served the villagers and the wider community since the 18th Century. During this era, The Elm Tree Inn was in synergy with the local church, providing a community hub. Initially, the Inn was lit by candles and amidst the flicker of flames, stories were told of the current state of the crops and animals, what contraband was currently available, how the herrings were running and, of course, all sorts of comments about who was doing what in the village.

Contraband and Ghosts

There is a tale of a lynching, when a man was strung up from a beam in the old bar. The victim was a fisherman in the 1780s who lied about his catch – and his ghost is said to appear from time to time, particularly when there is a Sou’westerly blowing! There is also a tale of a bricked-up hole in the old bar which leads to a secret passage to the village church, which is said to be either a smuggler’s escape tunnel or a hiding place for contraband. We’re still looking!

First World War 

A major change occurred in 1914 when villagers volunteered to serve our country in the First World War. The four years of the war were difficult, and The Elm Tree provided a sanctuary for those who remained in the local villages. Amazingly, all of the villagers from Langton Herring returned to their homes and to their Inn after the Armistice in 1918.

 Second World War

In 1939, Britain once again found itself in a major global conflict, and once again, villagers volunteered or were conscripted into the armed services. However, and quite unbelievably, all of our villagers survived the Second World War. Celebrations for the returning villagers would have been in order: We are one of only twelve ‘Doubly Thankful’ villages across England that had such great good fortune.

Barnes Wallis, Winston Churchill and Cold War Spies

The Elm Tree Inn hosted two very famous people during the Second World War as both Barnes Wallis and Winston Churchill spent time enjoying the local ales during interludes between the tests of the fledgling “bouncing bomb” in the Fleet. The secrecy of their visits would have been guaranteed as a national priority. Yet perhaps greater scrutiny ought to have been paid to the visits of Harry Houghton and Ethel Gee to the Elm Tree Inn! These two Cold War spies used the Elm Tree as a useful location to exchange information about the Portland naval base before their eventual arrests and trial in London. You can still sit in their favourite location in the  snug and imagine how they felt. Creepy but rather exciting.

Walkers and Bird Watchers

More recently, visitors have been attracted to our village to walk along the South West Coastal Path using The Elm Tree Inn as a welcome break and a chance to chat with local villagers. The Inn welcomed bird watchers who have been privileged to see so many migratory water birds on the Fleet. Today our lives are as chaotic as ever. Whether you are famous, infamous or just a “mere mortal,” The Elm Tree Inn has continued to prove to be a welcoming and charismatic Inn; a place of refuge from the stresses of our contemporary world.

Conclusion

We are mindful of our pub’s past, but we are convinced that new chapters will soon be written when we have its doors opened again - with your support. Langton Herring is already a “Doubly Thankful“ village and soon we will be a “Trebly Thankful” village when once again we meet old and new friends in the convivial environment of our pub: The Elm Tree Inn!

Invest today! 

If you'd like to support us but don't want to invest, you can donate to the cause here.