Dear Shareholders and Friends of Ashton Hayes Community Hub.

Thanks to your amazing support, we are getting ever closer to achieving something remarkable: the community purchase, refurbishment and reopening of the Golden Lion Pub, a beloved asset brought back to life in the heart of Ashton Hayes.

We’re almost there. One of the last big project milestones, that of securing a long-term tenant, is now agreed in principle with Lance Warburton. This provides a stable income for the Community Hub and ensures the Golden Lion can operate sustainably well into the future.

The final big push to reopen the Golden Lion is now required. We still have a funding shortfall to overcome and we require additional volunteer support at site, see below for details on both points, along with a summary of our amazing progress to date.

The important stuff!

Funding Shortfall

As often happens with older buildings, and with the Golden Lion main structure being well over 300 years old and made substantially of non-dressed local sandstone, unforeseen structural and hidden issues quickly eat into the funds allocated to other elements of a restoration project. As a relatively small example, only 3 weeks ago, after 9 months of working in the building, when we dismantled the bar, we found unstable flooring covering a cellar of which we were previously unaware, all of which required structural design, plans and work to shore up. As with everything we have had to do, we have repaired and secured this properly.

As a result, we now face a funding shortfall or gap for the final part of the project which, if filled, will allow us, together with Lance, his wife Leanne, family and team, to complete the restoration and reopen the Golden Lion as the Hub and Pub of Ashton Hayes and start trading, hopefully in July, after almost 13 years of being closed.

Now, we need your help once more to get over the final hurdle.

The Community Share offer has raised c£320,000. We launched the Share Offer with a minimum target of £250,000 which has clearly been achieved, thank you. We also set a maximum target of £420,000 at the launch. Due to the challenges faced with renovating such a dilapidated building, we will need to get as close to our maximum target as possible.

We are seeking to raise funding for the commercial kitchen installation along with some smaller items such as floor coverings, fire doors and external lighting. You can support this final stage in two ways:

1. By purchasing shares at £250 each. Join (or increase your existing stake in) the community ownership of the pub and be part of its continued success.

2. By giving a donation of any amount. Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us closer to opening the doors and serving the community once again.

We understand that times are challenging for many. But if you are in a position to help, or know someone who might be, we would be incredibly grateful.

Volunteer Support

As we move through the final stages of the project there is much to do at site. The core team of volunteers have, and continue to provide, huge amounts of time, effort and support on an almost daily basis.

However, there is so much to do, whether it be painting decorating, cleaning and tidying, planting and clearing the carpark and green areas, tidying and renovating the pub furniture moving the furniture in and out of place etc. For this we need more volunteers.

Again, if you are able to help in anyway or know someone who can please get in touch via email at AHCHL@goldenlionashtonhayes.co.uk. We can add you to the volunteer WhatsApp group and you can offer your help whenever a call goes out and you have the time to spare.

Current Progress Update

The back to brick refurbishment began in earnest in Q4 2024 this has now been completed along with the full internal insulation of all external walls and ceilings, plaster boarding of all internal walls on both floors is completed and replastering throughout is complete, the full internal redecoration is currently underway.

All planned structural works, along with a number of unplanned structural repairs, have all been completed. Planned floor repairs led to the discovery of an unknown cellar in the main building, this required structural steel supports to be designed, engineered and installed to structural engineer specifications in order ensure building integrity.

• The full refit of all electrical and plumbing infrastructure has been completed at first fit stage and the second fit for both is well underway.
• The hard wiring of the IT infrastructure is installed.
• New water, gas and electrical services have all been reconnected.
• Stone flooring has been laid internally and the original oak flooring repaired and refinished.
• The pub kitchen has had hygienic wall panels, ceilings and floors installed in readiness for the kitchen equipment installation.
• The first-floor accommodation has been redesigned to provide an open layout, providing two bedrooms, bathroom and kitchen dining room, the refit and redecoration of this space is well underway.
• Externally the new pedestrian access has now been completed and the solar panel array is due to be installed week commencing the 12th of May. All of the ground floor customer facing areas will be fully completed by the third week of May in readiness for opening.

We’re almost there. The last big project milestone, of securing a long-term tenant is now agreed in principle with Lance Warburton. This provides a stable income for the Community Hub and ensures the Golden Lion can operate sustainably well into the future.

Together, we can turn this community inspired ambition into a lasting legacy.

Thank you for supporting the project and for being on the journey with us.

Warm regards

The Ashton Hayes Community Hub Team