A CAMPAIGN group aiming to create Bradford’s first community pub is urging supporters to get involved and buy shares in its new venture.

The ‘Save The Kings Arms’ group, which is hoping to save the 200 year-old pub of the same name on Highgate in Heaton, is formally opening its community share offer at the village Christmas carol concert tonight.

The pub, which is owned by Enterprise Inns and listed as an Asset of Community Value, closed in May and is on the market for around £235,000.

Sonja McNally, chairman of the community benefit society set up to take over the pub, said: “We are counting on Heaton residents and supporters from far and wide to buy community shares to enable us to run the Kings Arms for the benefit of our Heaton communities.

“If we reach the £250,000 figure, there will be an offer made to the brewery. We are confident we can do it, and we are looking to re-open in Spring 2017. The Kings was, and will be once again, the hub of the village of Heaton.”

The group is looking to raise £250,000 to buy, refurbish, and re-open the business, consisting of at least £150,000 via the share offer and £100,000 in grants and loans.

The group have been working with the Plunkett Foundation, a national charity which has supported projects to reopen more than 50 community pubs and 300 village shops as cooperatives.

Anyone over 18 can pledge anywhere between £250 and £30,000 to buy shares and become a member of The Kings Arms Heaton Friends Ltd.

The group intends to keep the application process open until January 27, with community shares brochures available at tonight’s event, which takes place at the Heaton Tennis and Squash Club from 8pm.

Fellow committee group member Ingrid Dzerins said the project provided a range of affordable opportunities for investors.

She said: “Every pound makes a difference. If we don’t manage to raise the money it won’t be for the want of trying.

“This isn’t pie-in-the-sky, and we’ve had an awful lot of interest, so fingers crossed. We are confident as this kind of arrangement has happened and worked elsewhere.

“£150,000 is the minimum we’d like to raise with the shares, but ideally we want as much of the pub as possible to be owned by the community.

“We are realistic and know that times are hard, but it would be great to raise the whole amount in this way.

“If not, there are other options such as Crowdfunding, which has proved to be a great way to get people to invest in worthy causes.”

For more details, visit www.kingsarms-heaton.co.uk.

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