Category: Latest News

As our campaign gains momentum our story is being picked up by the regional media! The last few weeks has seen a number of highlights. Please help us by spreading the word and sharing these through your social media networks.

BBC News Online – ‘War cabinet’ formed to buy pub where Churchill ‘learned to drink’

Oxford Mail – Bladon villagers want to buy White House pub ‘where Churchill drank’

Ox in a Box – CAN SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL’S BLADON PUB BE SAVED? LOCAL COMMUNITY HAS FORMED THEIR OWN WAR CABINET AND IS HOLDING PUBLIC MEETING

BBC Radio Oxford – Bladon Community Pub group’s own Mike Edwards was interviewed live by BBC Radio Oxford’s Adam Ball at 4.40pm on 24th October 2019. Listen to the full interview here:

Thank you for completing the online or paper survey and telling us what you want from the pub. Here we bring you some of the highlights and an update on pledges – so far we have had 166 pledges from individuals amounting to £110,850.

Highlights from the survey

• 138 people responded to the online and paper questionnaire.
• 98% said they or a household member would use the pub if it was community owned.
• 88% said that they would consider investing in or making a donation to the pub.

Are there any community services you would like to see on offer at the pub? For example, social clubs, somewhere to pick up packages, café, shop etc. When and how would you like these services to be part of the pub’s offering?

There were several requests for the following:

• Café in the day time
• Simple dishes using local produce
• Pub games
• Social and community events
• Parcel drop off point
• Basic shop facilities
• Wifi and meeting space

Thank you so much to all that could make it to the public meeting yesterday. For those that couldn’t make the meeting, we are pleased to share the slides and a video of the presentation with you.

Presentation slides

Video of community meeting

There were some fantastic ideas about how we can put the pub back at the heart of the community and so far we already have 112 pledges totalling £83,800. It’s a great start, we still have a long way to go but we are sure we can do this!

The White House has enormous potential and could be a social hub for the village offering a whole host of services.

We ask those of you that haven’t already done so to give us you input on what you would like to see from our pub and a non-binding indication of investment. Shares will cost £50 with a minimum purchase of £250. We are also looking at group share offers, so even if you cannot invest £250 please put down what you could.

Tell us what you want from your community pub!

Watch the Video of the Community Meeting Presentation

Our soft-pledge has now closed and has been replaced by our formal share offer. For full details of the share offering and to invest or donate, follow the links below.