Last updated at 12:59, Friday, 08 March 2013

A Great Broughton pub could be taken over by the community next month.

BOOZER BOOST: Regulars at Great Broughton’s Punch Bowl Inn are getting closer in their bid to take it over as a community pub, from left: John Windsor, owner Sharron Rourke, quiz team captain Richard Evans and Peter Inglis

A group of villagers announced last November that they wanted to set up a group to take over the Punch Bowl Inn following the death of landlord Albert Charters.

It is now hoped that the business can be transferred to the registered society The Punch Bowl (Broughton) Ltd from Mr Charters’s daughter Sharron Rourke on April 4.

To achieve that target, the group needs to raise at least £2,000 to pay for stock and bills.

Anyone who wants to can become a shareholder, though a minimum holding of £100 is needed to join.

The group is currently finding out how many people are interested in joining and how much they want to invest.

Those people will soon be asked to make a final decision on how many shares to buy and pay the money.

That will allow the group to buy stock and pay set-up costs.

Once the shares are issued, an annual general meeting will be held and a management committee elected.

Each shareholder will get a single vote, irrespective of how many shares they hold.

Volunteers are also needed to help with the behind-the-scenes running of the pub.

Mr Charters ran the pub for 36 years, initially with his wife Shirley.

Since his death in October, Mrs Rourke has kept the pub open with the help of staff and volunteers and the new group will rent the pub from her.

Peter Inglis, who lives in the village, is acting secretary of the new group.

He said: “I’m delighted by the support that we have had from the villagers and people from the surrounding villages.”

Anyone interested in getting involved can email peteringlis@talktalk.net

First published at 12:35, Friday, 08 March 2013
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk