Securing community assets

As well as drinks and food, pubs serve so much more to a community. The fact that the Golden Lion has been closed for more than 10 years is such a shame for a village like Ashton Hayes. Initially, the empty building was taken on by someone that simply wanted to get planning permission for the land. But the community banded together to secure ‘community asset’ status for the pub. After much work, the pub has now been bought by the community, as Ashton Hayes Community Hub Limited (AHCHL). The funds raised through the sale of community shares – which as of October 2024 total £276,750 – will go towards refurbishing and reopening the pub and restoring it to its former glory as a community hub. These funds have been match-funded by the UK government.

Powers’ director Matt Powers grew up in Ashton, so the Golden Lion was part of his formative years. He said: “As soon as the community had the keys, and before the clean-up and restoration work began, we offered our expertise to the project.”

Surveying the situation

Powers went in to do a full internal and external measured building survey, including floor plans and elevations, and a topographical survey in June 2024. When the survey team explored inside, they found a suit jacket hanging on the coat stand with a Chester Races badge attached from 2013, which showed just how long the pub had been closed.

As work has commenced on the project and the surrounding plot has been cleared, Powers’ surveyors have been back to carry out an underground utility survey to check for services around the pub so that access to the community shop could be created from the rear pub car park. The team mapped out all the utilities and underground features, and the services’ entry points to the premises. This included gas, electric and water, but also drainage and wastewater routes. In the spirit of the project, Powers deferred payment and carried out the work for AHCHL pro bono, upholding the company’s commitment to delivering projects that contribute to the social impact of the local community.

A group effort

It was important the surveys were carried out as soon as possible, so that they could be used to inform the new layout of the pub. The surveys were used by the architect, Tony Southgate from Architecture Works Ltd, to inform the new design.

Work got underway on the hub in June 2024, when the first phase of the clean-up took place on Saturday 22 June. Work continued with shoring up the roof, which began in July, and then an internal clean-up took place in August, removing decayed ceilings and rubbish and rubble from the interior. With the debris cleared – including the overgrown foliage to the exterior of the building and trees to the carpark – it was easier to see just how much work needed to be done.

Once the project is completed and the refurbishment carried out, there will be a new Management Committee, which will oversee the performance of the business and ensure that it meets the goals set out in The Golden Lion’s vision statement. It’s interesting that many community spaces, such as pubs, have been identified as useful and important community assets. There are more than 800 community-owned businesses across the UK and each one is democratically owned by community members. They can be any type of business – ranging from village shops, pubs and cafes, through to woodlands, fisheries and farms. The plan is to appoint an experienced tenant in the Golden Lion, to run the pub day-to-day under a tenancy agreement with AHCHL.

Making a difference

Many volunteers have given their time and knowledge to the project and it’s great to witness people coming together to make a difference. It seems everyone’s hard work is being rewarded and recognised beyond the community. As the project moves forward, AHCHL been awarded the ‘One to Watch’ award in the 2024 Rural Community Business Awards. The winners were announced at a ceremony at Coin Street Conference Centre in London on Wednesday 23 October.

To find out more information about Ashton Hayes Community Hub Limited and the Golden Lion’s progress click here. https://goldenlionashtonhayes.co.uk/category/surveys/

If you would like a measured building survey or underground utilities survey carried out, then why not get in touch with us today.