On Friday 25 April to support Sidbury Community Enterprises’ community share offer to purchase the Red Lion in Sidbury it held the successful first of its two Open Days in Sidbury Village Hall where architects plans, computer generated drawings and artist’s impressions of the alterations that it intends to make to the Red Lion were on show.
Almost 70 people attended this first Open Day.
The main interest from those who attended was in the proposals for what alterations would take place in the main ground floor parts of the pub, predominantly the bar and restaurant areas, as well as the skittle alley and courtyard area. The intention is to move the position of the bar itself to open up the bar area thus creating more space, and to extend the restaurant area whilst introducing full length sliding doors to create a link to the courtyard.
The skittle alley would also benefit from the installation of full length sliding doors which will again directly link it into the courtyard and introduce more light into it.
Those who attended also had an opportunity to speak to the architect, Simon Spence, who has been developing the plans for Sidbury Community Enterprises.
Many of those who attended the Open Day also took the opportunity to discuss how the ownership of the Red Lion would operate within a share owning arrangement. A number of local residents also took the opportunity whilst they were at the Open day to leave their completed share application form and cheque.
Reflecting upon the successful Open Day Chair of Sidbury Community Enterprises Fred Burnett said – “It was wonderful to see so many people at our first Open Day. It was pleasing that in addition to many residents from the village,
there were also residents from Sidford and Sidmouth who took the opportunity to come along to see what alterations we are proposing to make to the Red Lion. This shows that the purchase of the Red Lion has appeal both within the village and the wider Sid Valley “.
Fred Burnett added –“The great thing about this first Open Day was how positive and complimentary people were about our vision for upgrading and altering the pub and particularly in our intent to make it a community hub within the village. Everyone also supported our intent to retain the Red Lion as a real village pub. I would remind everyone not to leave it until the last minute to send in their completed share application forms and underline that the share offer is open to anyone who supports our vision for a refurbished community orientated Red Lion”.
The second Open Day is being held on Saturday 3 May and it too will be held in Sidbury Village hall (10.00 am to 4.00 pm).
The share offer, which is open to anyone who is interested in retaining the Red Lion as a community orientated and owned pub, closes on 23 May.
ENDS
Message for editors –
- Sidbury Community Enterprises Limited – established in October 2013
- The Pub In The Village Facebook has 150+ friendshttp://facebook.com/thepubin.thevillage?ref=tn_tnmn
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- Sidbury village, which has 800 residents, is 1.5 miles from the Regency seaside town of Sidmouth. The Red Lion is Sidbury’s last pub.
- Attached are the architects drawings and computer generated images for a refurbished Red Lion.
- Attached also are photographs taken at the Open Day
For further details contact:
John Loudoun
Company Secretary, Sidbury Community Enterprises
Tel: 07703194136