A Traditional Bed and Breakfast
We are a local village pub set just a few miles away from the Regency town of Sidmouth.
With home cooked food served in the evenings at week-ends, as well as light lunches.
We have four bedrooms and offer both bed and breakfast facilities with evening meals.
You can also enjoy our great selection of draught and traditional real ales.
Please call 01395 597313 to find out more.
And it has been voted one of the top pubs in the area:
Last chance to pick your favourite pub | This is Exeter
Claire Wright - Your Independent East Devon District Councillor for Ottery Rural
Indeed, it is "the highest placed pub in the Competition in the Sid Valley area!":
The Pub In The Village : Red Lion in Top 10 of Exeter Express & Echo's Pub of the Year Competition
But it is now under threat:
Villagers fight to save their only pub
Thursday, May 16, 2013
By Fran McElhone
A community is rallying together to ensure its village pub is not sold off
to a developer and lost forever. The Red Lion in Sidbury has been put on the
market by premises owner Punch Taverns.
Neil Anthony, who has been running the pub for five years, has been told by
the company his tenancy will not be renewed when it runs out this autumn. The
move has sparked concern among villagers who see the pub as their community
hub.
Nationally, about 16 pubs are closing every week according to the Campaign
for Real Ale. It blames high beer tax and high prices dictated by the companies
that own the venues as well as the economic downturn.
A spokesperson for Punch Taverns said the decision was part of a review of
its less sustainable venues.
Residents have already set up a Facebook page, Thepubin Thevillage | Facebook, to help
highlight their concerns.
Resident John Loudoun, 59, who has been going to the pub for around 15
years, called the meeting. "We've known for some time it may come up for
sale," he said. "The worry is that if it is considered not viable, it
may be sold on to someone who does not want to keep it as a pub. It's the only
pub in the village, which needs a pub which is often the focal point of a
community, where people can get together. And there is the potential for it to
house other amenities. For example, the village lost its Post Office some time
ago. It's a trend we're seeing around the country. That's our biggest
fear."
A spokesman for Punch Taverns said: "It is always our preference that
our pubs continue to trade as pubs, however we do review our estate regularly
and may explore other options around the future of our less sustainable sites,
or where they might better fulfil their potential for the local community under
different ownership. Following such a review, a decision has been made to put
the Red Lion on the open market for sale with our agents Jones Lang La
Salle."
For more information visit the Facebook page at, Thepubin Thevillage | Facebook or the blog at
Alternatively follow the campaign on Twitter at ThePubInTheVillage (SaveTheRedLion) on Twitter or to get involved email, thepubin thevillage@gmail.com
The campaign has featured regularly in the Sidmouth Herald:
Villagers back Sidbury pub - Features - Sidmouth Herald
Campaigners organised to save Sidbury pub - Features - Sidmouth Herald
Saving our pub - Letters - Sidmouth Herald
And in the wider press:
Residents fight to save Red Lion pub in Sidbury
View From Online - News from West Dorset, East Devon & South Somerset
Villagers fight to save their 'centrepiece of community' | Western Morning News
Campaign launched to save Sidbury village pub | The Exeter Daily
Sidbury Villagers fight to save historic pub The Red Lion from closure | Exeter Express and Echo
Save the Red Lion in Sidbury | Sidmouth Independent News
Although the current owners have no mention of the Red Lion, Sidbury:
Pub Business | Punch Taverns
The Red Lion, however, is the 'centrepiece of the community':
Save The Red Lion Campaign
Campaign Patron – Hugo Swire MP
The Red Lion is the only pub in Sidbury village. In
response to the announcement that the Red Lion’s owners, Punch Taverns, had put
the pub up for sale a packed meeting of over 50 villagers met on 19 May 2013 to
express their concerns about the possible implication of this sale on the
village.
At the meeting a resolution was
agreed -
We
agree to establish a Campaign Group with the objective of ensuring that the Red
Lion, Sidbury is retained as pub for the community. To support this
Campaign we agree to create a Steering Group which is charged with fulfilling
this objective. We encourage all those who share the Campaign’s objective to
join us.
The Campaign hopes that a purchaser will come forward
who has the vision & business objective of making the Red Lion a viable pub
for the community in the heart of the village. However, the Campaign must
consider what options would be available to allow the Red Lion to be retained
in case a purchaser does not materialise or seeks to change its use. The
Campaign’s objective is to ensure that the Red Lion is retained as a pub –
please support this endeavour.
If you want to support the Campaign & be included
in its mailing list, forward your details to – ThePubInTheVillage@gmail.com
Read regularly about the Campaign & related events
at - http://thepubinthevillage.blogspot.com
Follow the Campaign on Twitter at – http://twitter.com/SaveTheRedLion
Become a Campaign Facebook friend at –http://facebook.com/thepubin.thevillage?ref=tn_tnmn
Campaign Chair – Fred Burnett
The Red Lion remains open & your custom is most
welcome. Sidbury is a pleasant village surrounded by great countryside &
there are plenty of wonderful local walks. You can always stay at the Red Lion
as part of enjoying your break in the Sid Valley.
The Pub In The Village – Save The Red Lion Campaign
dedicated to retaining the pub in the heart of Sidbury village.
The PubInTheVillage website is regularly updated:
From today:
The Pub In The Village : More local & not so local Campaign press coverage
From this week:
The Pub In The Village : Listen to today's Radio Devon Campaign interview
There are some very helpful links to websites offering advice on community finance and business...
Co-operative Mutual Solutions
Community Matters - Home
Norfolk RCC
And the campaign has taken a further serious step:
Friday, 19 July 2013
A Community Action 1st in East Devon!
Save The Red Lion Campaign has now taken the next & crucuial step of asking East Devon District Council to list the Red Lion as an "Asset of Community Value". This means that if, as we fully expect the District Council to do, it lists the pub as an "Asset of Community Value" then the owner, Punch Taverns, cannot sell the pub at this stage.
By obtaining the listing, which we anticipate should be concluded by early/mid September, then in addition to Punch Taverns not being able to immediately sell the Red Lion, the Campaign can start to properly evaluate whether it wants to start the process of making a bid for the pub.
This is a significant moment for the Campaign as it demonstrates that it is absolutely serious about retaining the pub for the community & that there is a clear belief amongst Campaigners that the Red Lion can be turned into a viable & successful business. This request for the Red Lion to be listed as an "Asset of Community Value" is the first to be made to East Devon District Council for a pub, & the first to be made to the District Council by a local campaign group! Across the UK there are only about 70 pubs that have been listed by Councils as an "Asset of Community Value".
A copy of the Campaign's press release that was issued today announcing this news is athttp://sites.google.com/site/thepubinthevillage/19.7.13SaveTheRedLionPressRelease.doc
In addition to asking the District Council to list the Red Lion, the Campaign is also now in the process of applying to the Government's Department for Communities and Local Government for a significant grant to allow it to undertake "pre-feasibility" work associated with preparing to make a bid for the pub. This grant will allow the campaign to be supported by professional advisers in evaluating the likely cost of purchasing & upgarding the pub; in starting work on an outline business plan & getting the pub independently valued & possibly surveyed.
Save The Red Lion Campaign expects that by early September it should know if the pub has been listed as an "Asset of Community Value" & whether it has been awarded the grant which will enable it to take the move to purchase the pub for the community to the next stage. So the next 6/8 weeks will be a bit nailbitting for the Campaign!
The Campaign has not forgotten that the local community will want to fully understand how the next stage will work & to have their say in what the pub should provide, beyond the traditional pub fare, as a community asset. So in early/mid September the Campaign is planning to hold a public meeting in the village to update & engage with the local community.
This is really the start of what will be an exciting, time consuming & determined period for the Campaign as it starts to turn good intentions, that were originally voiced in mid May at the original public meeting that created the Campaign, into actions.
Come with us on this journey! Please support the Campaign as it progresses.
By obtaining the listing, which we anticipate should be concluded by early/mid September, then in addition to Punch Taverns not being able to immediately sell the Red Lion, the Campaign can start to properly evaluate whether it wants to start the process of making a bid for the pub.
 |
| Campaign Chair Fred Burnett delivers the request for the District Council to list the Red Lion |
A copy of the Campaign's press release that was issued today announcing this news is athttp://sites.google.com/site/thepubinthevillage/19.7.13SaveTheRedLionPressRelease.doc
In addition to asking the District Council to list the Red Lion, the Campaign is also now in the process of applying to the Government's Department for Communities and Local Government for a significant grant to allow it to undertake "pre-feasibility" work associated with preparing to make a bid for the pub. This grant will allow the campaign to be supported by professional advisers in evaluating the likely cost of purchasing & upgarding the pub; in starting work on an outline business plan & getting the pub independently valued & possibly surveyed.
Save The Red Lion Campaign expects that by early September it should know if the pub has been listed as an "Asset of Community Value" & whether it has been awarded the grant which will enable it to take the move to purchase the pub for the community to the next stage. So the next 6/8 weeks will be a bit nailbitting for the Campaign!
The Campaign has not forgotten that the local community will want to fully understand how the next stage will work & to have their say in what the pub should provide, beyond the traditional pub fare, as a community asset. So in early/mid September the Campaign is planning to hold a public meeting in the village to update & engage with the local community.
This is really the start of what will be an exciting, time consuming & determined period for the Campaign as it starts to turn good intentions, that were originally voiced in mid May at the original public meeting that created the Campaign, into actions.
Come with us on this journey! Please support the Campaign as it progresses.
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