We bought a pub

Regular readers of this blog may remember a post I wrote at the start of the year, with the title “Swan looks to the village for salvation”.  The Swan in question, is the pub of that name, which stands on the green of the tiny, tucked away village of West Peckham, roughly half-way between Tonbridge and Maidstone. Dating back to the early part of the 16^th Century, the Swan has been a pub since 1665, although not always under that name. 

So, what about the pub itself, and the tiny village where it is located? West Peckham is certainly tucked away, and that is no exaggeration because it is a rare “no drive through” village, meaning that the road into the village is the same route out of it. In other words, West Peckham isn't somewhere you can drive through, on the way to another destination, instead it is a place you have to want to visit.

Fortunately, the presence of the Swan on the Green is ample enough reason to drive, or walk (Greensand Way) to West Peckham, and despite its relatively isolated position, the Swan enjoys a strong and loyal local following, and also attracts custom from further afield. Until very recently one aspect that drew in additional trade was the range of the Swan’s house-brewed beers, produced in an old coal shed, at the rear of the pub. Up to eight cask ales, all named with a “Swan” theme (Bewick, Cygnet, Trumpeter and Whooper), had been brewed since 2000, but sadly, brewing ceased in the spring of 2023 as the self-built plant was said to be approaching the end of its working life.

Even without the house-brewed beers the Swan is a destination pub in its own right, given its attractive location on the village green, at the crossroads of the Weald and Greensand ways. In addition, the pub’s kitchen offers everything from “lite bites” to full-on family dining. One other claim to fame, but possibly not for the right reasons, is the Swan starred as the village pub, in the rather dreadful remake the H.E. Bates classic, The Darling Buds of May.  This was the production that instead of David Jason and Pam Ferris, featured Bradley Walsh as Pop Larkin and Joanna Scanlan, as Ma. (The least said about it, the better!)

Despite this illustrious trading record, and in spite of the Swan remaining a successful pub and popular restaurant, the decision taken, just over a year ago by the current owner and licensee Gordon Milligan, to sell up and leave the trade after 24 years at the helm, sent shock waves through the tight-knit local community. Fortunately, rather than seek to convert it into housing, Mr Milligan approached the villagers and asked if they wanted to take the pub on. Their answer was a resounding “yes”, so a steering group was set up with the aim of purchasing the building collectively for the village.

The idea attracted a lot of interest, not just within West Peckham, but from the surrounding west Kent area as well, and with this in mind the group was given six month’s exclusivity to come up with a plan. After agreeing a purchase price with Mr Milligan, the group then looked at sourcing funding from the Community Ownership Grant scheme, as well as seeking donations from villagers and local businesses. The aim was to set up a Community Benefit Society, known as the Swan Community Project Ltd, which will then own the Swan and be responsible for its future. The society is a “not for profit” company with a mission to operate for the benefit the Community, and in order to achieve this, any profits will re-invested in the project.

I concluded my January article with the words, “I wish the group every success and might even chip in myself!”  Well, now I have, because after signing up to the project, I've been receiving regular updates. I’d been meaning to attend some of the meetings the group was holding, but never really seemed to quite find he time. Then, during the third week in October, I received an email saying that the offer had just a couple more days to run, and that more investors were needed to reach the investment target.

That plea provided the impetus for me step up to the plate and after purchasing the minimum investment of, I’m now the proud owner of 250 shares in the Swan Community Project Ltd. A couple of days later, I received an email thanking me for my purchase, and confirming that, along with others, my investment was sufficient to secure ownership of the pub. Furthermore, because that final push had raised more than the committee thought, there was a sufficient surplus to put towards other purposes connected with the pub – kitchen refurbishment for a start. Consequently, the share offer has been left open until 7^th November, with aim of reaching the magic, half million pounds target.

I'm not quite sure what happens next, although the group is holding a “pop-up” meeting, at the pub, on 5^th November. I shall be traveling back that day from a trip to Bath, with members of the Beer & Pubs Forum, so won’t be able to attend, but I’m sure to find out in due course. In the meantime, the following statement from the group, encapsulates nicely, what they are trying to achieve with the pub.

 "The Swan is the hub of our community, a place where locals and those from the surrounding countryside, villages and towns can socialise and take part in quiz nights, music nights and other social events. It’s at the heart of our Village Fête, Produce Show, Bonfire night and many other Community events. As the only full-time provider of hospitality, food, and drinks for several miles it brings money into the local economy, supporting local businesses and tourism. It’s also a major employer in the parish, providing five full-time jobs and the first work experience for many younger members of the Community."