Meeting over community bid for Brewers Arms postponed due to Covid

Members of the community were set to meet at West Malvern Village Hall to discuss plans to buy the Brewers Arms.

Organisers have since confirmed the event has been put back due to the change of Covid situation.

Due to be held in West Malvern Village Hall, it will now take place at a later date.

This is due to the situation with Covid infections in the village taking a turn for the worse.

No date has yet been set for a rescheduled meeting.

Mark Haslam, one of the Steering Group who was due to make a presentation at the meeting, said: “It is highly regrettable that we have had to make this decision at such short notice.

"However, it would be potentially reckless in terms of people’s health to proceed with a public meeting in the current situation.

"It is appreciated this will be disappointing and frustrating for those planning to come along, but we will be communicating with people over the coming days, and further posting information on a new website that is due to go live later this week at: www.brewerscommunitypub.co.uk."

More than 150 people have already returned the community questionnaire that was distributed at the previous meeting to discuss a possible community buy-out of the pub on November 17.

At that meeting there was a unanimous view expressed to proceed to bid to buy the village pub, with the necessary funds being raised via a community share scheme.

Set up as the Brewers Community Pub Group, preparations for a bid will be drawn up, including a business plan and share prospectus.

At the previous meeting, a packed village hall heard presentations from Mr Haslam, as well as steering group leader Brian O'Connell.

Having agreed to launch the bid, the group in charge is hoping to bring together potential shareholders in the pub and people who can lend a hand with business or technical expertise.

It is expected they will need around £350,000 to buy the pub and carry out much-needed renovation work on-site.