The future of the White Horse remains in the balance…

Yesterday evening, we wrote to all 1000 members of the Stonesfield Community Benefit Society, with the news that our cash bid for the White Horse, at the full asking price with a guarantee to exchange contracts as soon as possible, lodged on 18th December 2020, has been rejected. This was despite assurance from the vendor that if we could raise the asking price he would sell to the community.

The selling agent, Fleurets, has confirmed that an alternative offer has been accepted. We don’t know much more than that at this stage. We do not have confirmation of who the proposed new owner is or what their future intentions for the White Horse are. There are rumours but we know nothing more officially regarding the status of the contract. We are going to try to contact the vendor to see if there is any chance of salvaging the situation and if not then to the new owner to build a relationship if we can.

We are bitterly disappointed to bring you this news having fully met all of the demands placed upon us to achieve the purchase of the property. Hundreds of people in Stonesfield and the surrounding areas have supported our campaign and over a thousand people worldwide have backed us so generously.

The intention of the Stonesfield Community Pub Group remains to do all that we can to ensure that Stonesfield continues to have a pub.  As such, we shall continue to seek out the factual information that is required for us to make the best informed decision as to the next steps. 

We understand that you may well have questions; as these come in we shall formulate a Q&A for you all.