Case studies fact-check

Public ledger of every case study cited in earlier proposal drafts, with verification status and the reason any have been removed.

Source: docs/website_content/case_studies_fact_check.csv · Rendered 2026-07-07

Case Study	Claim in Proposal	Truth/Reality	Verdict (Debunked/Misapplied/Confirmed)	Source Citations
Alexandra pub, Haringey	ACV listing or status prevents redevelopment into family housing or conversion to residential use.	The property was removed from the Asset of Community Value (ACV) list following a successful planning appeal for conversion to two dwellings. The grant of planning permission meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of community use.	Debunked	[Project research file (not publicly accessible)]
Cardigan Arms, Leeds	A community-led crowdfunding project to acquire the asset was successful.	Source material explicitly describes this as a failed project to acquire the Cardigan Arms in Leeds.	Debunked	[Project research file (not publicly accessible)]
Cross Keys public house (Henley-on-Thames)	Viable for future community use despite being closed.	An appeal was successful in removing the property from the ACV list because the business was not financially viable and there was no local support to run it as a community pub.	Debunked	[Project research file (not publicly accessible)]
Norman and Dann (Liquor Licensing)	A chocolate shop successfully gaining a special liquor licence to support local distillers and tourism.	The application for a special licence at Salamanca Place was refused by the Commissioner for Licensing in September 2025. The decision noted that adding liquor to retail collateral is not in the community's best interest.	Debunked	[Project research file (not publicly accessible)]
The Centurion pub, Chester	Listing would prevent a sale to a developer for conversion to a care home.	The sale agreement was entered into before the listing. Under section 96(4), the disposal is treated as occurring when the agreement became binding, meaning moratorium provisions did not apply.	Debunked	[Project research file (not publicly accessible)]
The Crown (Birmingham)	A historic pub (also referred to as The Old Crown) saved and reopened through community funding as an inclusive venue for music and performance.	While £300,000 was allocated from the Community Ownership Fund in 2023, an announcement in February 2024 confirmed the site could not be secured due to high-value transaction requirements and funding retractions.	Debunked	[Project research file (not publicly accessible)]
Tumbledown pub (McDonalds purchase)	Listing would revert the property to community pub use.	A judge ruled there was no realistic prospect of reversion because McDonalds acquired the site and secured planning permission for a restaurant prior to the appeal.	Debunked	[Project research file (not publicly accessible)]
George IV pub, Brixton	ACV listing protects the asset from conversion to a supermarket or loss to the community.	The pub was sold to a food retailer prior to listing and converted to a supermarket because, at the time, listing did not prevent changes of use under Permitted Development Rights.	Misapplied	[Project research file (not publicly accessible)]
Hebden Bridge Fustian Manufacturing Co-operative Society	A successful nineteenth-century producer cooperative run for worker empowerment and self-employment.	While long-lived (1870–1918), workers were excluded from the management committee. Profits were weighted toward external investors and customer cooperatives, while worker bonuses were minimal and contested.	Misapplied	[Project research file (not publicly accessible)]
Hebden Bridge Trades Club	A joint union enterprise and socialist members club operating as a celebrated music venue and members' co-operative.	Built in 1924, it has been a socialist club since 1982 and formally constituted as a co-operative in 2016. However, it has faced investigations over accounting, and the building is owned by Labour Party nominees rather than the co-op itself.	Confirmed / Misapplied	[Project research file (not publicly accessible)]
Mondragon Corporation	Large-scale worker-owned cooperative federation used as a precedent for community ownership and resilience.	Confirmed as a massive federation of self-governing cooperatives with 70,000+ people and a 6:1 salary ratio. However, it is noted as not closely analogous to small-scale Tasmanian pubs and has recently seen the bankruptcy of Fagor and the exit of other major co-ops.	Confirmed / Misapplied	[Project research file (not publicly accessible)]
Bishops End pub (Bishops Blaize), Burdrop	Residential occupation prevents listing; unlawful use does not exclude a building from listing.	The owner's residential use was unlawful. The First-tier Tribunal held that 'used as a residence' must be interpreted as lawful use; thus, it was eventually listed in 2016.	Confirmed / Debunked	[Project research file (not publicly accessible)]
Chesham Arms pub	ACV listing could result in the pub reopening if planning for flats was refused.	Reopening was considered a realistic possibility by the court; the pub was one of the first to be relisted as an ACV.	Indicative — not externally verified	[Project research file (not publicly accessible) — public-facing verification pending]
Community-Owned Pubs (London: Carshalton, Nunhead, Tottenham)	COPs foster social capital and urban regeneration.	Research on The Hope, The Ivy House, and The Antwerp Arms shows these venues preserved history, created bonding and bridging capital, and led to a rise in local property values.	Confirmed	[20]
Crauford Arms, Maidenhead	Operating successfully as a community pub.	Reported as operating ahead of its financial and social targets as a community pub.	Indicative — not externally verified	[Project research file (not publicly accessible) — public-facing verification pending]
Earthworker Co-operative	Manufacturing co-op using worker-ownership and sociocratic governance for a clean energy future.	Based in Morwell, this social enterprise (Eureka's Future Workers' Cooperative Ltd) manufactures solar hot water systems and operates on a solidarity economy model.	Indicative — not externally verified	[Project research file (not publicly accessible) — public-facing verification pending]
Enspiral Network	Decentralized network of social entrepreneurs using digital tools like Loomio and Cobudget for coordination.	Founded in 2010, it is an open value network of professionals who contribute income to a common pool. It uses consent-based decision-making and acts as a limited liability company with a charitable constitution.	Indicative — not externally verified	[Project research file (not publicly accessible) — public-facing verification pending]
FC United	A community owned football club in Manchester that raised £2 million in 2009 to acquire its ground.	Formed in 2005; in 2009 it launched a community share offer that successfully raised £2 million for the acquisition of the club and ground.	Indicative — not externally verified	[Project research file (not publicly accessible) — public-facing verification pending]
Hepburn Community Wind Farm	A distributing co-operative that constructed a wind farm using substantial share capital.	Raised approximately $9 million to construct the farm; notable for successfully raising capital despite not yet paying a dividend.	Indicative — not externally verified	[Project research file (not publicly accessible) — public-facing verification pending]
Hopsters Cooperative Brewery	A new co-operative enterprise attracting members to a craft beer enterprise in Sydney.	Members own and craft beer, using the co-operative legal entity to raise funds across the community.	Indicative — not externally verified	[Project research file (not publicly accessible) — public-facing verification pending]
Ivy House pub, Nunhead	A community purchase can result in a viable, profitable business model.	The most prominent community purchase; announced in May 2017 that it was running profitably.	Indicative — not externally verified	[Project research file (not publicly accessible) — public-facing verification pending]
More than a Pub programme (Phase 1)	Successfully funds and supports community ownership of pubs in England.	Evaluation found success in rural areas with professional steering groups but failure in urban deprived areas due to lack of engagement.	Indicative — not externally verified	[Project research file (not publicly accessible) — public-facing verification pending]
Pingala Co-operative	A renewable energy co-operative that sold out its membership shares in 9 minutes.	Raised £17,500 through a community engagement event where shares sold out in 9 minutes without using a digital crowdfunding platform.	Indicative — not externally verified	[Project research file (not publicly accessible) — public-facing verification pending]
Plunkett UK community businesses	High survival rates for community-owned businesses.	Plunkett UK has published survival-rate figures for community-owned businesses (in the order of 94% long-term and 97.5% over five years for the community-owned businesses it records). These should be cited directly from Plunkett's Better Business Report (most recent annual edition) rather than via project characterisation. Figures vary slightly across editions; the project will cite the specific edition and page when re-issuing this row.	Indicative — pending direct verification against Plunkett source	[Plunkett UK Better Business Report (annual; direct URL to be added on next verification pass)]
Rose Hill Tavern, Brighton	Could be operated on a not-for-profit community basis.	Following failed planning for luxury flats, it was sold to a community interest company and is now an independent artist-led venue.	Indicative — not externally verified	[Project research file (not publicly accessible) — public-facing verification pending]
Sociocracy (Gerard Endenburg)	A governance model based on self-organization, circles, and double-linking to provide participants a voice.	Developed using a family business as a laboratory, utilizing decision-making by consent. Hundreds of Dutch companies have adopted it for worker representation.	Indicative — not externally verified	[Project research file (not publicly accessible) — public-facing verification pending]
UK Co-operative Pubs (The Old Crown Pub Co-operative)	Community share issues have saved important services like pubs across the UK.	CMS advised successful buyouts in places like Hesket Newmarket and Hudswell. The Old Crown Pub Co-operative is cited as a successful example of long-term preservation.	Indicative — not externally verified	[Project research file (not publicly accessible) — public-facing verification pending]
George & Dragon, Hudswell (North Yorkshire)	Community share issue funded a closed pub's reopening as a community benefit society, using a tenanted operating model.	Confirmed. Closed Aug 2008 (owner bankrupt). Community formed Hudswell Community Pub Ltd (Industrial and Provident Society for Community Benefit). £240,000 raised from 160 investors at £1/share (min £500, max £20,000). Building purchased Feb 2010, reopened Jun 2010. Professional tenant carries commercial risk; co-op owns the freehold. Added volunteer shop, library, allotments, free internet. First community-owned pub to win CAMRA National Pub of the Year (2016).	Confirmed	[bp-cases: communityplanning.net/casestudies/012; georgeanddragonhudswell.co.uk; CAMRA records]
Old Crown, Hesket Newmarket (Cumbria)	England's first community cooperative pub, used as a model for subsequent UK community buyouts.	Confirmed. Purchased Aug 2003 for £180,000 by 125 shareholders plus £35,000 in rural grants. Standard shareholding £1,500; one member one vote. Tenanted model: lease requires tenant to stock Hesket Newmarket Brewery beer and source locally. Turnover grew from £90,000 at acquisition to £259,000. Target dividend 5%; paying ~3.5% by year four. Still operating — celebrated 20th anniversary Sep 2023.	Confirmed	[bp-cases: theoldcrownpub.co.uk; Plunkett UK Better Form of Business 2014/2017/2018; Times and Star]
Sea Lake Hotel Co-operative (Victoria)	Australian rural community pub saved through a co-operative share model, one member one vote regardless of investment size.	Confirmed. $5,000 minimum investment; all members hold equal voting rights. Over 80 volunteers attended first working bee; condemned building renovated in six months. Co-operative now mentors other communities. Operated under Co-operatives National Law.	Confirmed	[bp-cases: BCCM Reinvigorating Regional Australia; BCCM Disclosure Statement]
Broomehill Village Co-operative (Western Australia)	Community of 250 people raised sufficient capital to acquire and restore a closed 120-year-old hotel.	Confirmed. 75 shareholders raised $325,000. Supplemented by $151,000 from Great Southern Development Commission and $22,500 from CBH Bunya Fund. UWA architectural students contributed design proposals. Working bees used for renovation.	Confirmed	[bp-cases: BCCM Reinvigorating Regional Australia]
The Royal Hotel, Grong Grong (NSW)	A small farming village raised over $1 million from 169 shareholders at $5,000/share to save its last major community asset.	Confirmed. Village population ~150; the pub had been preceded by loss of school, railway station, and police station. $5,000/share; 169 shareholders raised more than $1 million — double the target. Investors included city-based diaspora with personal connections to the town. Working bees used for pre-opening renovation.	Confirmed	[bp-cases: Australian Hotelier Feb 2022; ABC News]
Nandaly Community Hotel (Victoria, "The Nanny")	A community of 45 people registered a non-profit distributing co-operative to reopen a closed pub, returning all surplus to operations.	Confirmed. Population of Nandaly ~45. Committee members attended ACRE 'Understanding Social Enterprise' program. Registered as non-profit distributing co-operative (all profits returned to hotel operations, not paid as dividends). Opened Dec 2018. Supported by Buloke Shire Council economic development team.	Confirmed	[bp-cases: BCCM Reinvigorating Regional Australia]
Sea Lake Hotel Co-operative (Victoria) — extended detail	Sea Lake started as a company before converting to a CNL co-operative; active membership required $100/year spending.	Confirmed. Initial structure: company with 14 investors. Converted to distributing co-op under Co-operatives National Law when 40+ residents sought to join — the structure evolved organically as interest grew. Active-membership rule: members must spend $100/year at the hotel to retain voting rights, aligning patronage with governance participation.	Confirmed	[bp-cases: BCCM Reinvigorating Regional Australia; Cooperative Hotels in Australia (2024)]
Hotel Renmark (South Australia 1897)	The first community-owned pub in the British Empire, established under the Gothenburg temperance model.	Confirmed as the earliest documented community-owned pub in the British Empire. Established 1897 as part of the Renmark Irrigation Colony. Gothenburg-model pubs directed trading profits to community benefit rather than private shareholders. Not a CNL precedent but the historical lineage for Australian community pubs.	Confirmed	[bp-cases: Cooperative Hotels in Australia (2024)]
Hotel Theodore (Queensland)	A 75-year community cooperative pub entered voluntary administration in August 2023.	Confirmed. Operated approximately 75 years as a community co-operative with 168 shareholders. Entered voluntary administration August 2023. Causes: escalating power/utilities/insurance costs and COVID-era staffing disruption. First confirmed Australian community-pub failure in the research corpus. Does not disprove the model but confirms cost-structure risk must be stress-tested in feasibility work.	Confirmed — Failure Case	[bp-cases: Cooperative Hotels in Australia (2024)]
Mogumber Hub Co-operative (Western Australia)	A small WA wheat-belt community saved essential services (store/fuel/post office) through a community co-operative model.	Confirmed. Located in Mogumber WA; community co-operative model established when commercial operators could not sustain viability. Preserves essential local services including groceries, fuel, and post office. Cited in BCCM as a model for essential-service co-operatives in rural towns. Analogous to community pub cases: community ownership as last resort for a place-based asset.	Confirmed	[bp-cases: BCCM Reinvigorating Regional Australia]