The Friends of the Flying Saucer Community Group, aims to raise the money through funding, grants, shares and loans in order to purchase the freehold of the property and conduct any additional renovations needed.
The group has made progress so far, including securing ‘Asset of Community Value’ status from Medway Council on Monday 2 September 2024.
Community devastation
Flying Saucer steering group member and previous customer of the pub, Denize Halfpenny spoke of the venue’s importance.
She told The Morning Advertiser (The MA): “It was a very well-used pub especially since Covid, all the village residents made sure it was well used, to help get it back on its feet”.
She also highlighted events such as board game afternoons at the site that helped the committee to grow from three to 24 members.
Halfpenny explained this helped to foster close friendships at the Flying Saucer and lead to other activities such as a craft club and a popular quiz night.
She added: “The pub needs to reopen. We are stuck in between a rock and a hard place at the moment, but we will not give up!”
Previous Flying Saucer customer and steering group chairperson Beverly Weir, emphasised the community’s devastation at the pub’s closure and its commitment to reopening the venue.
She told The MA the Flying Saucer opened in April 1951 and had previously been a working men’s club for many years prior.
The pub closed on 8 June 2024 with very short notice given to the community or the staff.
Weir explained following this closure, with the help of local Councillor Jim Gilbourne, community meetings were arranged and the steering group was formed.
Weir explained that after the Save the Flying Saucer Facebook website was started, community group members compiled a leaflet to raise more awareness of the pub and hand delivered it to each house in Hempstead.
She added that herself and community members were asking for pledges of £250 per share. At present, the site has 257 pledges and three businesses offering loans.
Following the establishment of the group, a questionnaire was then distributed, which gathered 450 completed forms pledging support for the pub.
Weir detailed a total of 155 people volunteered to work at the pub following this.
Outside support
Since then, the community has created a Facebook page and has been continuing to fundraise through its pledges.
Each shareholder member in the society receives one vote, regardless of the number of shares owned, ensuring no single investor can take control.
The group has received support from the Plunkett Foundation, a UK based national charity that helps aid people in rural areas run community based businesses.
Weir stated: “With the help of our local MP Naushabah Khan, who raised our plight in Parliament, we were invited to meet with the Minister of Communities, Alex Norris MP who listened to our plight, and offered support and advice.”
The group has additionally explored options such as the Government’s Right To Buy scheme, which supports local groups looking to take ownership of pubs and other valuable spaces in their neighbourhoods.
Weir added despite several challenges, including a valuation lower than the freeholder’s asking price, the community remains positive and continues fundraising efforts to purchase the site.
She continued: “With the support of our community, MP and Government, we hope we will get our pub open soon.”
Profits from the Community Benefit Society could also be reinvested into other local projects as we as the Flying Saucer, as chosen by the society and its members.
Community members can participate by attending meetings, voting, electing committee members, or volunteering.
Volunteer opportunities include helping with renovations, IT support, or sharing skills in order to mentor and train staff.
Both Weir and Halfpenny said the Flying Saucer has always been more than just a pub and that they hoped with the right community backing, the community can make ownership a reality.
