Brighton’s only community-owned pub calls on local people to help secure its future

While pubs across Britain continue to close, The Bevy has quietly proved there’s another way.

Brighton’s only community-owned pub on a housing estate has now been trading at a profit for more than six months, showing that a community-owned pub can be both financially sustainable and a vital part of local life. Every pint poured, every coffee served and every room hired helps create a place where people meet, families find support and neighbours look out for one another.

But despite owning the business, the community has never owned the building.
That could soon change.

The Bevy’s landlord, East Brighton Trust, intends to sell the building this September. In response, the community has launched an Asset of Community Value (ACV) application, asking local people to sign and show their support.

If successful, the ACV would help prevent the pub from being sold for at least six months, giving the community valuable time to raise the money needed to buy the building themselves.

This isn’t about rescuing a failing pub.
The Bevy already works.
It’s about making sure the people who built it can finally own it.

Places like The Bevy don’t appear overnight. They’re built over years through thousands of conversations, volunteer hours, shared meals, friendships and everyday acts of kindness.

Warren Carter, Chair of the Committee, said:

“Hundreds of people use The Bevy every month, from two-year-olds to ninety-two-year-olds. Alongside being a proper local pub, we’re home to our Seniors’ Lunch Club, Family Fun Thursday, Dementia Café, Job Club, Book Club, pool and darts teams, and Disability Disco. This campaign is about making sure the people who built this place can protect it for future generations.”

If Britain needs more places like The Bevy, the first step is making sure we don’t lose the ones we already have.
The community built The Bevy.
Now it’s time the community owned it.