School bids for village pub (From Stroud News and Journal)

School bids for village pub

A STEINER school's plans to run a village pub has outraged residents and angered a would-be publican who has been gazumped by the deal.

The Cotswold Chine School in Box is set to sign a contract later this week after putting in a substantial offer to buy the village's Halfway Inn.

But Nick Beardsley, Landlord of the Old Fleece at Rooksmoor and Nailsworth's Britannia is furious at the news because it means his own offer for the Box pub has now been turned down.

Mr Beardsley claims there is more to his gripe than simple sour grapes.

"Being gazumped is never pleasant," he said.

"But if it had been the owners of another pub I'd say 'fair play guys, see you at the next battle'.

"But slugging it out with a school run as a charitable trust means taking that battle to an uneven playing field.

"As a charitable trust they don't have to deal with the same tax laws.

"And this trust was not set up to buy pubs."

According to the Charity Commission the school was set up in the 1960s with the aim of providing 'for the education of maladjusted children in accordance with the principles and methods of Rudolf Steiner and the education of young people who have reached the school leaving age and have special learning needs'.

"How you can interpret that to fit in with owning a public house is beyond me," said Mr Beardsley.

And he added: " I'm sore because I've been gazumped by a school but I'm doubly sore they've done it using charitable funds."

Box resident Alistair Jones said there was a lot of opposition to the idea within the village.

"The school depends on its finances from the tax payer," he said.

"The money from the social services and local education authority should go for educating and supporting the children.

"I can't help thinking of my money going into this pub and I think that's outrageous."

Alison Castrey, legal manager of the school, accepted the idea of a charity owning a pub 'may seem a bit odd' but stressed it was an investment for the school.

"Lots of charities own similar properties up and down the land," she said.

"This project gives the school the opportunity to continue what the current owners have done and create a unique 'village-owned' and independent character for the charity."

If the purchase went ahead, she said, the school would be able to share the car park with pub users, easing parking pressures elsewhere in the village.

She stressed the good work done by the school helping children with emotional and behavioural problems.

"It seemed too good an opportunity to miss," she said.

Mr Beardsley has lodged an official complaint with the Charity Commission. "I think the whole thing needs a public airing," he said. " I do feel that it should be explained what business a school for disadvantaged children has running a pub."