Glynn and Wendy Roddy have operated The Willow Tree on Rufford Way in West Bridgford since 2016.
The couple have been running the pub since 2016 expect for a couple of years when they moved away from the area. When the pub became available again they came back to rejoin the community they love and made a great success of the venture.
Now Stonegate Group who own the business has announced it wants to sell the lease – Glynn and Wendy have first refusal on this, but the cost for 5 years is likely to be near to £30,000.
Glynn told The Wire:
‘Stonegate are making the same business decision that happens all the time in the industry, pubs move to leased from managed, and pubs move from managed to leased it happens all the time.’
‘We have nothing against this decision, Stonegate have been really good to us over the years.’
‘When we came back, we intended to stay for many years, as we love this pub and know what works here and what the community likes and expects. Our children are loving being back “home” and continuing their education, where they feel safe and wanted.’
‘If we can hang on to The Willow Tree we can do things our own way, we know the community better than anyone else who may come in, and we know what they like.’
The fundraising effort is currently standing at £1,745 at Sunday 10:00 am if you would like to support it here is the page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/keep-the-willow-tree-at-the-heart-of-the-community
The fundraising page reads:
‘We have a very big thing to ask… we need to raise £30,000 to buy the lease for The Willow Tree Pub in Abbey Park.
‘Hi, it’s Glynn and Wendy here. We returned to The Willow Tree Pub after two years because we love this place and the team, who feel like our family too!
‘We are extremely proud to have been able to ride out Covid here, with Wendy and the girls being interviewed on BBC Radio about making headbands and scrub bags for the QMC, with the community dropping off bed sheets and fabric to make them! The girls’ banner in support of the NHS and frontline services was photographed and put on the local police social pages too!
‘The Willow Tree Pub has been the heart of the community since the early 1970s, and it is about to celebrate its 50th anniversary in the coming year, with events planned to celebrate.
‘But here is the reason for this fundraising page: Stonegate Group (who own this business) want to sell the lease. This will effectively mean that if Wendy and I don’t raise the money needed to buy it, The Willow Tree Pub will change hands again, giving it an uncertain future. The money we hope to raise (with your help) will go towards buying the lease and the furniture, fixtures, and fittings, as well as enabling us to trade and do things our way! This will benefit the local community greatly by enabling us to continue to employ the local faces that we have all grown to love and provide the events and activities you expect from Wendy and me! By owning the lease, we will be able to make our own decisions about food menus and lowering prices, making it more accessible to every member of the community.
‘We understand if you cannot help us—we know that times are hard and money is tight—but we are passionate about this community space and sincerely hope that, with your help, we can continue to be here, keeping the heartbeat of Abbey Park going for many years to come! Thank you for your time (and hopefully your support too)!
‘If we do not reach our target and are unsuccessful in our bid to buy the lease, any monies raised will be donated to local and national charities. However, if we are unsuccessful, any donations of £100 or more by any individual or organisation will be refunded.’
https://www.gofundme.com/f/keep-the-willow-tree-at-the-heart-of-the-community
