Villagers '˜closing in' on target to purchase Half Moon pub

The Save the Half Moon Steering Group announced that by 12pm on Christmas Eve, £260,000 had been received from more than 200 investors.

The share offer was opened in the last week of November 2016 with each share priced at £1.

The minimum number of shares to become a member of the society is 250 and therefore costs £250.

The share offer was due to close on Christmas Eve but was then extended until midday today (Thursday, January 5).

Spokeswoman for the Save the Half Moon steering group Sara Hill-Dalton said: “We are close to our target, but we still need a little more to cover the purchase, associated legal costs, and funds for essential maintenance.

“In buying the pub, we need as much money as possible to ensure that it gets off to the best possible start. On Christmas Eve, we therefore extended the deadline to midday on Thursday 5th January 2017.

“This is the last possible date for a decision to be made, and the Balcombe Community Pub Limited (“BCPL”) Committee will meet that evening to decide whether or not we can sign the contract to purchase the pub. This decision will depend on having enough money in the bank on that day. The long term financial success of the pub depends on a sound financial footing. When we buy the pub, we want it to succeed.”

The steering group is urging residents to help them over the line.

For more information of how to get involved please visit www.savethehalfmoon.co.uk.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.