Invitation to invest in your community
▪ In 2020 the Silks was threatened with closure
▪ We raised over £257,000 when 240 people contributed to secure the future of the Silks
▪ We were successful in applying for £235,500 from the Community Ownership Fund
▪ We purchased The Silks in May 2022 and a crew of volunteers extensively refurbished it
▪ The Silks reopened for business on 21 Sept 2022 and is now the only pub in the Og valley
▪ The Silks is now under the direction of Thomas Frake (2020 MasterChef champion)
Having bought, refurbished, opened and operated the pub for over two years, we now want to undertake phase 2 of the facilities development by completing the refurbishment of the first floor to provide en-suite rooms for rental and an office space, and providing a disabled toilet and baby-changing facilities on the ground floor.
That is why we have opened up a second share issue and are inviting you to invest in the community by becoming a part owner of the pub, ensuring we protect the many community benefits for generations to come. We have shown that a local pub can be the beating heart of a community, its benefits reaching well beyond the bricks and mortar. Everyone who has been involved in the renaissance of The Silks feels immense pride, a strong sense of ownership and a powerful feeling of belonging.
Community pubs are rapidly becoming an established model of ownership and are proving increasingly popular and successful. At the Silks we offer a range of community activities including space for clubs and societies, volunteering opportunities and a social hub for those managing isolation.
We hope to raise a minimum of £10,000 from this share offer, with a target of £30,000. Each share costs £50 and there is a minimum holding of £200 (4 shares). The maximum individual investment is £50,000. The closing date for applications will be 31 January 2025.
Thank you for your interest. We hope that you share our excitement to build a thriving pub and community hub for the benefit of all and we look forward to you joining our Silks family. Contact the committee on info@octypus.org for any queries or to discuss.
Download the share offer document & application form
For more information: