Co-operatives becoming more popular as communities save pubs

25th January 2010, 9:57am

Britain's first urban co-operative pub has launched today as a new report shows that pub closures have accelerated to one every three hours.

The Star Inn in Salford was given three weeks notice of closure but, after locals clubbed together, the pub is back in business as a community-owned co-operative.

The new pub coincides with the launch of a report, 'Calling Time on Pub Closures - The Co-operative Answer', by Co-operativesUK which documents rising trends in pub closures and sets out advice on creating co-operative pubs.

'Calling Time on Pub Closures - The Co-operative Answer' is co-written by Ed Mayo. He said: "Pub closures can be like pulling the plug on local communities. It is scandalous that pubs like The Star Inn are being closed at three weeks' notice and it is a tribute to the community in Salford that they responded in an innovative answer to the threat of closure."

Local resident Margaret Fowler said setting up a co-operative was easier than she thought: "The Star Inn has been part of the community since 1867. People really missed it when it was closed down and that brought us all together to invest our own cash to re-open the pub. It really was easy to set it up as a co-operative and now we have got our pub back, it's the most fantastic feeling in the world."

If you are interested in finding out more about how to buy your local pub, please download a copy of 'Calling Time on Pub Closures - The Co-operative Answer'.

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