Fizzy wine has been drunk!
Toby and I are just a little bit excited.
After years of ridiculously hard work, at 4.58pm on the 1st of November we had the news that our finance was secured to begin to restore and develop our “at risk” listed barn on The Red Cow site into 5 boutique guest rooms.
In 2011 we originally got permission for the barn to be converted to a function room, along with the kitchen extension that took place at that time. Sadly, we were not able to secure the required funding to complete the barn restoration at that point. Over the next couple of years, the new village purchased the village hall providing a community facility for weddings and parties, further reducing the viability of using the space for functions.
During this phase Uttlesford conservation department placed the barn on it’s “Buildings at risk register”; this was a particularly stressful time for us as we were desperately trying to achieve funding, without which the project would never go ahead. The Buildings at Risk register allows the district council to, if they deem necessary, take action to enforce the owner of a listed to building to take measures to maintain and preserve the building.
During 2015 and 2016 we employed the services of a local architect to plan and design the buildings to incorporate five guest rooms with en suite facilities, three in the main barn and two in the old post office building. All rooms will be doubles with zip lock beds so they can be twins if required. One of the rooms in the post office will be fully accessible with a wet room and rails for those who need extra support.
This process alone, as many of you will know was very lengthy and expensive. We had to have various inspections and reports written. These included the standard bat and newt reports, but we also had to have an initial engineers report followed by a detailed engineer’s report which along with the archaeologist’s reports have made a complete record of every timber used in the construction. The archaeological report has been filed with Historic England. So it is not only a listed building, but one which is of particular interest to the history of England.
In 2015 we were made aware of a further round of European funding for rural development. Eastern Plateau is the administering authority for these funds in our area, which are provided via DEFRA and the European Development Fund for Europe. Rural projects can apply for funding of up to 40% of projects that will contribute to the rural economy. There are many criteria which have to be strictly adhered to. The application process for these grants is extremely thorough and extensive and was a major piece of the work we had to do to be able to afford the restoration and development. We were delighted when in March this year we were awarded the sum of £123,000 towards the costs of the project.
At the same time we were trying to secure a loan for the match funding from the banks. Sadly, there were many obstacles and nearly all of the traditional sources of finance were declined for a multitude of reasons, financial risk, no appetite for the industry and the nature of the project also turned off the credit risk assessors.
At the end of September I was beginning to think after so many rejections that we would never get this done and we would have to reassess the very viability of our business overall. Despite being a busy and active pub, it is a difficult task to achieve a net profit which provides an income for a small family to live with even a basic standard of living.
I went to church and requested prayer, I had never prayed before for financial support of for materialistic gifts and felt quite sheepish to say the least. But good friends in church prayed for the barriers to finance to be removed and for the sources to be made available so we could continue our work here in Chrishall.
The next Monday I had a call from a new bank manager. He had studied all the business plans and related documents and had discussed it already with the credit department. Pending (another) valuation confirming the value of the business, the answer would be a yes!
We couldn’t quite believe this and I even dared ask “why this time, after so many rejections?” The answer that came was simple “Don’t question it, just go with it”.
The valuation was duly completed and forwarded to the relevant department and by that evening on the 1st of November, we had our definite answer. I did ask “Can we now drink some champagne?” and the definitive answer was “YES!!”
Meanwhile, we had been juggling tenders and builders, whilst continuing the day to day business of running the pub, going out to my other job, and all the usual life events. This, from week to week can be pretty hectic and exhausting with Toby working from 70-80 hours a week.
By the time you read this our builder would have started the works, with the aim to complete by June next year.
We are delighted to be able to restore the barn at last. As well as the aesthetic benefits it will bring to the village, with a good level of occupancy and the addition customers to the restaurant we hope we can secure the financial viability of the pub for many years to come.
We will keep you updated with more information over the coming months.
So despite the development, please do keep coming to support your village pub.
Best wishes
Alexis, Toby and Lottie.
Toby and I are just a little bit excited.
After years of ridiculously hard work, at 4.58pm on the 1st of November we had the news that our finance was secured to begin to restore and develop our “at risk” listed barn on The Red Cow site into 5 boutique guest rooms.
In 2011 we originally got permission for the barn to be converted to a function room, along with the kitchen extension that took place at that time. Sadly, we were not able to secure the required funding to complete the barn restoration at that point. Over the next couple of years, the new village purchased the village hall providing a community facility for weddings and parties, further reducing the viability of using the space for functions.
During this phase Uttlesford conservation department placed the barn on it’s “Buildings at risk register”; this was a particularly stressful time for us as we were desperately trying to achieve funding, without which the project would never go ahead. The Buildings at Risk register allows the district council to, if they deem necessary, take action to enforce the owner of a listed to building to take measures to maintain and preserve the building.
During 2015 and 2016 we employed the services of a local architect to plan and design the buildings to incorporate five guest rooms with en suite facilities, three in the main barn and two in the old post office building. All rooms will be doubles with zip lock beds so they can be twins if required. One of the rooms in the post office will be fully accessible with a wet room and rails for those who need extra support.
This process alone, as many of you will know was very lengthy and expensive. We had to have various inspections and reports written. These included the standard bat and newt reports, but we also had to have an initial engineers report followed by a detailed engineer’s report which along with the archaeologist’s reports have made a complete record of every timber used in the construction. The archaeological report has been filed with Historic England. So it is not only a listed building, but one which is of particular interest to the history of England.
In 2015 we were made aware of a further round of European funding for rural development. Eastern Plateau is the administering authority for these funds in our area, which are provided via DEFRA and the European Development Fund for Europe. Rural projects can apply for funding of up to 40% of projects that will contribute to the rural economy. There are many criteria which have to be strictly adhered to. The application process for these grants is extremely thorough and extensive and was a major piece of the work we had to do to be able to afford the restoration and development. We were delighted when in March this year we were awarded the sum of £123,000 towards the costs of the project.
At the same time we were trying to secure a loan for the match funding from the banks. Sadly, there were many obstacles and nearly all of the traditional sources of finance were declined for a multitude of reasons, financial risk, no appetite for the industry and the nature of the project also turned off the credit risk assessors.
At the end of September I was beginning to think after so many rejections that we would never get this done and we would have to reassess the very viability of our business overall. Despite being a busy and active pub, it is a difficult task to achieve a net profit which provides an income for a small family to live with even a basic standard of living.
I went to church and requested prayer, I had never prayed before for financial support of for materialistic gifts and felt quite sheepish to say the least. But good friends in church prayed for the barriers to finance to be removed and for the sources to be made available so we could continue our work here in Chrishall.
The next Monday I had a call from a new bank manager. He had studied all the business plans and related documents and had discussed it already with the credit department. Pending (another) valuation confirming the value of the business, the answer would be a yes!
We couldn’t quite believe this and I even dared ask “why this time, after so many rejections?” The answer that came was simple “Don’t question it, just go with it”.
The valuation was duly completed and forwarded to the relevant department and by that evening on the 1st of November, we had our definite answer. I did ask “Can we now drink some champagne?” and the definitive answer was “YES!!”
Meanwhile, we had been juggling tenders and builders, whilst continuing the day to day business of running the pub, going out to my other job, and all the usual life events. This, from week to week can be pretty hectic and exhausting with Toby working from 70-80 hours a week.
By the time you read this our builder would have started the works, with the aim to complete by June next year.
We are delighted to be able to restore the barn at last. As well as the aesthetic benefits it will bring to the village, with a good level of occupancy and the addition customers to the restaurant we hope we can secure the financial viability of the pub for many years to come.
We will keep you updated with more information over the coming months.
So despite the development, please do keep coming to support your village pub.
Best wishes
Alexis, Toby and Lottie.
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