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THE BOUNDARY ARMS

SAVE

Our main aim and purpose is to retain the pub for the community.

We are now registered as a community benefit society and a Limited Company. Our aim is to launch a share offer for the community to buy a stake in their local pub.

The Story So Far

The story so far...

What’s this all about?

In November 2021, the Boundary Arms in Pinkneys Road, Maidenhead, was closed by the Owners (Colgaz Ltd) who subsequently applied for Planning permission in April 2023 to demolish the pub and build two semi-detached houses in its place.
As a result of this, a campaign was started within the community to save the Boundary Arms and to object to the planning application, and subsequently Colgaz Ltd withdrew their application in June 2023.

The “Friends of the Boundary Arms” Community Group was formed to nominate the Boundary Arms as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). Assets of Community Value and the Community Right to Bid offers greater opportunity for communities to keep such buildings in public use and ensure they remain a social hub for the community, click here to learn more.

The ACV was successfully accepted by RBWM in August 2023.
In November 2023, the Boundary Arms was put up for sale by Colgaz Ltd for £775,000 plus VAT and advertised as a “Pub/Investment Development Opportunity”. In April 2024, RBWM informed our Community Group that Colgaz Ltd had accepted an offer for the pub and that we have until 26th September 2024 to make and agree an offer with them. Unfortunately, Colgaz Ltd are under no legal obligation to accept our offer.
Until then, Colgaz Ltd cannot dispose of the pub to a 3rd party.
We are led to believe that the offer that Colgaz Ltd have accepted is NOT FROM the Pub/Hospitality sector. If true, the Boundary Arms as a pub could be lost forever.

Who is organising this campaign?

A small group of local volunteers who feel passionate about re-opening the Boundary Arms for the benefit of the community.
A Steering Group has been formed – members are Kenton Barnard, Mark Newcombe, Stephen Burroughs, Jeremy Reynolds and Emily Davis

How would it be done?

We have established a Community Benefit Society (CBS), which is known as the Boundary Arms Society Ltd (BASL).
By funding from Government Community grants, private grants, loans, donations and a community share offer.
With assistance from specialist bodies such as the Plunkett Foundation.

What stage are we at?

We are finalising our Business Plan and financing, so that we can confirm the offer that we would like to submit to Colgaz Ltd. This will be underpinned by our various funding sources as stated above.
An independent Surveyor has been commissioned to determine a true market value as we do not believe that the freehold price of £775,000 plus VAT is realistic if the property remains as a Pub.

What’s next?

Communicate and raise awareness to the Community that their local Pub is in danger of being lost forever if it is sold to a 3rd party. This will be done via leaflet drops and updates via our Facebook page, WhatsApp Group, website plus press articles in the Maidenhead Advertiser.
Launch a Community Share Offer.
Arrange Public meetings to convey our message.

Share Pledge

How Can You Help?

Share Offer - As part of the grant and loan applications, we need to establish how much the community is willing to invest in a share offer so that the BASL can assess whether any such bid is viable or not.

How will the Share Issue work?

We are not yet at the stage yet where we can launch a formal share offer, so at present we are asking for Pledges to help us judge the level of support within the community. The shares of the Society are £50 each. The Steering Committee have decided that the minimum investment required at this stage is 5 shares (£50 x 5 = £250). Anyone who invests the minimum of £250 will have a vote and therefore a say in the affairs of the business at General Meetings.

The legal maximum is £100,000 per individual. The business will operate strictly on a one member, one vote basis, regardless of how many shares are held.

To give the business a chance to establish, the Society has agreed an initial period of five years during which time the buying back of shares will be restricted and no dividends will be paid. But, thereafter, the expectation is that there may be profits to fund withdrawals within parameters agreed by the members. When the business is in profit, the Society aims to pay interest on the shares at a rate to be recommended by the management committee and voted on at the AGM.

This is not just about buying a pub. It is about helping to sustain a community. There is limited financial reward. It’s about ensuring that the Boundary Arms is run for the good of everyone. There will be a Management Committee of Members to oversee the day-to-day running of the business.

Your registration will be treated confidentially and adhere to GDPR rules. It does not constitute a commitment to invest. More financial information and a formal share offer will be provided in due course.

So, providing that a proper business case is put to you, explaining how the pub will be bought and operated and that you are satisfied with the level of risk involved:

How much would you be prepared to invest buying shares in the Society?

How To Inform Us of Your Share Pledge

Please email your share pledge amount with your name and contact details (Phone number) to theboundaryarms@gmail.com
Alternatively, please text your shareholder pledge with your name and email address to Kenton Barnard at 07860 232198
Or send your shareholder pledge amount above that you wish to invest, along wirth your contact details, to Kenton Barnard, 120 Pinkneys Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 4DN.

None.
£250
£500
£1,000
Other (please specify) ______________________________

£2,000
£5,000
£10,000
£20,000

Fighting Fund

We also need to establish a “fighting fund” of non-refundable donations to contribute towards the costs of our campaign. Main costs so far are membership of the Plunkett association for professional services and our CBS submission to the FCA, Design and print costs, Surveyor's fees and graphic design and website costs, etc.

“Fighting Fund” Donations (non-refundable)

In addition to and/or instead of investing in shares, how much would you be prepared to...?

Donate (please specify amount) £____________________
Loan (please specify amount) £____________________

How to make a donation to the “Fighting Fund”

1. If donating electronically, we have opened a Bank Account with Metro Bank. Details are as follows:

Bank Account Name: The Friends of the Boundary Arms
Account Number: 53818641
Sort Code: 23-05-80
Reference: Your name please & contact details if possible so that we can thank you
Payee Account type: Business

2. If you wish to donate by cheque, it should be made payable to Friends of the Boundary Arms.

Please send all cheques to Kenton Barnard, 120 Pinkneys Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 4DN.

Please include your contact details so that we can thank you.

3. If you wish to donate by cash, please send to Kenton Barnard, 120 Pinkneys Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 4DN

Please ensure you include your contact details so that we know who it is from and that we can thank you.

A big thank-you to helping us with our campaign. Let’s save the Boundary Arms and get it re-opened again as a Community Pub.

Steering Group

Boundary Arms Society Ltd (BASL)

Fighting Fund

Share Pledge

ACV

The ACV

An Asset of Community Value (ACV) was submitted by the “Friends of the Boundary Arms” Community Group to protect the Boundary Arms pub. In August 2023, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) approved this application.

The ACV will be in place for 5 years. The attached document is the detailed ACV that we submitted. Please do read as it explains the reasons why the ACV was submitted.

CAMPAIGN NEWS

Article

Recent article in the Maidenhead Advertiser, reporting that the Boundary Arms has been listed

for sale...