"We're on a knife's edge" - fight to save beloved village pub that provides gateway to South Downs

The Blue Bell, which provides a convenient gateway to the nearby South Downs Way, was rescued from permanent closure in 2019 by locals desperate to preserve it for community use.

Five years, and a global pandemic later, it represents the beating heart of the village, serving homecooked food, local ales, a variety of wines, strong coffee, and holing up hikers in three B&B style ensuite rooms. But a challenging economic climate has put the pub in danger of closure, and owners say they need a £30,000 cash injection to clear their debts, install new tenants and secure their long-term future.

Owners say that, while the business makes plenty of profit it doesn’t make quite enough to enable the Community Hub that owns it to fully service its own debt. This shortfall, combined with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which struck just after The Blue Bell first reopened, hast left pub owners stuck between a rock and a hard place. They say this latest cash injection will help them wipe the slate clean and install tenants who can run their own profitable business, debt free, out of the Blue Bell.

"That is why we need this current one off cash injection into the Community Hub, “ a spokesperson explained. “Plunkett UK, who support us and community projects similar to ours, advise that 98% of community owned pubs with tenants succeed hence our desperate need to change our model before we have to close for good. Any help any of you can give would be amazing.

"It’s a profitable business, and will be for the new tenant we’ve got lined up,” added Andy Cornwell, a key member of the Community Hubs Management Committee. “We just need this to clear our debts and give ourselves some breathing room.”

The pub has temporarily closed for the next two weeks while the fundraiser takes place, but Andy said falling short here could see the Blue Bell close forever – with disastrous consequences for Cocking and its sleepy rural community.

“We desperately do not want to lose the pub, it would rip the heart out of Cocking,” he explained. “We lost our little village shop last year and, now that that’s gone, we’re all that’s left. We have a lot of elderly residents, and we’re a focal point for them; we run coffee mornings and breakfast clubs to help them get out and meet people.”

Not only that but, nestled on the cusp of the South Downs, the Blue Bell is also a convenient access point for walkers keen to tackle the iconic South Downs Way – meaning it’s well-used by hikers, campers and anyone looking to stop off and top up on their way across the downs.

"We’re not just at the heart of the local community,” Andy said, “but, because of where we are, we’re a big part of the passing tourism here too – and there’s nothing else in Cocking that can replace us.”

To find out more about the fundraiser and donate, visit https://thebluebellatcocking.co.uk/ or gofundme.com