Overwhelming support for Raven to re-open as a pub

A SURVEY of residents of Culcheth and Glazebury has indicated that 90 per cent of people would like to see The Raven Inn re-open as a community pub.
They have also said they would be likely to use the pub if it re-opened – and 82.7 per cent of them would like to see home cooked food served at lunch and dinner times.
More than 200 people have so far taken part in the survey, organised by the Save the Raven campaign group.
A total of 210 responses have been “positive” and only four “negative.”
The group has also applied to Warrington Borough Council for the pub to be designated as an Asset of Community Value (ACV)
Spokesman Peter Sturman said they believed the council would take their application seriously.
“An ACV will help protect the Raven, help to ward off any future developers, allow us to bid for the Raven in any future sale and stipulate a six month moratorium to allow us to raise the funds to do so, when it becomes available to purchase.”
The campaign group still await news of what the developer plans to do next. The original plan, to demolish the Raven and build houses on the site was withdrawn.
Developers Osborne and Co later indicated they were proposing an alternative that would retain the pub building, converted for residential use. But as yet there has been no second planning application.
Mr Sturman added: “We continue to call on the developer to withdraw and allow the opportunity for a community purchase.”
The group stress that their campaign is not
simply about saving the Raven now, but for future generations.
Aim of the survey of residents is to assess the viability of the Raven as a community pub at some time in the future.
The responses suggest the following:
* A total of 90 per cent indicated they would patronise the Raven, at some time.
* The most popular “service” would be, Home cooked food (dinners and lunches) on 82.7 per cent
* There were a large number of additional “community services” suggested, of which, being dog friendly, was the most popular, on 38.6 per cent
* The most popular food is traditional pub grub on 90.2 per cent
* There were 53, varying “other” food related suggestions
* A total of 142 people answered “they, or someone in their household, would be interested in helping The Raven Inn Community Pub Project” (66 per cent).
* There were four negative responses and 210 positive responses, so a 98.1 per cent positive response.
The survey shows overwhelming support for the Raven being preserved as a community pub. Within that there is an appetite to be involved, in some way.
The message from our local community is that they want the Raven to be traditional and friendly. Catering for locals, with local people involved, considering their dogs and providing home cooked food.
Interestingly, there were a number of comments asking for the Raven to be returned to the pub it used to be. To reinstate the events that used to be a regular feature of the Raven.
One innovative suggestion was that the Raven should support local “up and coming” chefs / restaurateurs, by providing the facilities and venue, via a “pop-up” restaurant. A total of 61 per cent of respondents were in favour of this.
Mr Sturman added: “We are now five months into our campaign. It is a huge positive boost to see such an array of dynamic and constructive ideas.
“The resolve of our community is as strong, as ever, to save the Raven and preserve it for future generations. What”s more, for that to be done by the community, for the community”.