The Half Moon Pub Group is steadfast in its mission to revive our cherished local pub and transform it into a bustling community hub. This visual timeline captures our ongoing journey, highlighting the key milestones in our planning and legal battles, community participation and fundraising efforts, and advocacy initiatives. Each step demonstrates the resilience and determination of our community to reclaim and rejuvenate this vital space. While the pub is not open yet, our shared vision and commitment continue to drive us forward, bringing us closer to making this dream a reality. Join us in celebrating our progress and supporting our cause in our first Pub Night in Sharow, held on Saturday 15th June at Sharow Village Hall.

Summer Update on our Epic Battle to Reinstate the Half Moon Inn as a Working Pub

Our efforts to protect the Half Moon Inn has been a journey filled with determination, unity, and the timeless spirit of safeguarding. For 22 months, the Half Moon Pub Group’s commitment has shone brightly, a testament to our community’s heart and soul. During this time, the group has been faced with one appeal after another, fusing our shared values against personal gains. Amidst this journey, we’re standing strong on our vision to revive a legacy that’s over two centuries old, our local pub, as the heart of the community.

Appeals and discussions have coloured these months. As you are aware, in 2022, the owner’s proposal to convert the pub was refused. Undeterred, he appealed this decision, only for this to be dismissed by a Government inspector. Not long after this, the owner applied for a Certificate of Lawfulness for an Existing Use (CLEUD) – alleging 4 years residential use – which would have given him the right to change the use of the pub, regardless of HBC’s and the external inspector’s planning decisions. Thankfully, the NY Council rejected this. However, following NY Council serving an enforcement notice on the owner requiring him to quit living in the pub, we find that he is now appealing against the enforcement notice and the rejection of the CLEUD application. 

It feels we are extinguishing one fire after another. Yet we still stand strong, so that the Half Moon Inn remains a living testament to shared history and values. Our resilience, unity, and the unwavering commitment defining this 22-month battle shows that together we can prove our community’s strength, unbreakable bonds, and ability to weather any storm. Hopefully, it won’t be too long before we can celebrate with a pint – or two – at the Half Moon Inn.

We did it! We’ve prevented the planning permission to convert our pub into a private house.

Together, we have successfully convinced Harrogate Council to reject the planning application that would grant the right to the owner of the Half Moon Inn, Sharow, to convert it into a private home!

We established the facts, consulted the planning legislation and submitted arguments that showed Harrogate Borough Council that the Half Moon Inn should maintain its right to operate as a pub in the future, as it has done for the last 200+ years. Tapping on the collective expertise of the volunteers of this group, that include business, planning law, hospitality, community fundraising, and communications, and with the advice from various reputable national organisations, we developed a business proposal and report that details how the community can reinstate our local pub. Furthermore, we succeeded in securing the Asset of Community Value status for the Half Moon Inn in November. With all this in place, last week’s Harrogate Borough Council rejection of the controversial residential planning application was finally announced.

So where does that leave us now? We have published a fully costed report on viability on behalf the community, which can be viewed here. It evidences how the Half Moon Inn could adapt a sustainable business model and add value to the community life in our rural area. And although the owner is still living in the pub, which is still not operational, the community and HMPG will not stop until we get our pub back and running! 

We know there is a growing trend of communities fighting for the survival of their local pubs. According to CAMRA’s Paul Ainsworth ‘Community owned or run pubs have been a huge success story in recent years with 179 operating at the last count. Remarkably, no pub that has continued to be owned by its community has so far failed as a business. It is a model that works and which would work at Sharow given the opportunity’. Similarly to Sharow, the community group at Skelton are raising funds to purchase their local Black Lion and the thriving Exelby Green Dragon up the road demonstrates this is possible. The national success of ‘more than a pub’ model is the perfect fit for the future of the Half Moon Inn. 

Get in touch if you would like to support this vision – send us an email at halfmoonpubsharow1@gmail.com

Autumn update

It has been almost 5 years since our local Half Moon Inn was purchased by a private owner. That is 5 whole years that Sharow and the neighbouring villages have been deprived of our valuable community asset. And yet, the road still seems to be really long.

Following the submission of our opposition to the planning application for a change of use by the new owner of the Half Moon Inn, our efforts have been delayed, by yet again another technicality: a Valuation Report. Paid for and briefed by the current owner and applicant, this has taken more than 2 months to be published. Alarm bells you say? Indeed we think. Since the posting of the ‘not viable’ Valuation Report by Christie & Co, we gathered again, even stronger and more fired up, to review it, identify issues, mistakes and inconsistencies. And with support from community pub experts, we formulated our response, which we have now submitted to Harrogate’s planning department. 

The decision on the application should be made by the end of November. If the planning department recommends approval of the application for change of use, Sam Green, our borough councillor, has requested that it go before the planning committee for the decision. However, if recommended to refuse, that will be the decision under delegated powers.

If the application is rejected, the applicant will have the right of appeal within 6 months of the decision. If the application is approved, the objectors only will be able to take the matter to judicial review, within 6 weeks of the decision.

The Half Moon Pub Group have managed to move mountains and have received provisional intention of investment on a ‘Community Shares’ scheme by more than 60 people around the area. We are working on a business plan and we are reviewing grant and funding options so we can present to the community a robust plan on how to run the Half Moon Inn successfully. Not only at a financial level, but as a community asset and a hub, that will allow people to gather, eat and drink, enjoy cultural, community and social events. 

We will be updating you shortly with the next steps. Until then, get in touch if you can help the group. We need the energy and expertise of a range of experts, including social media, PR, fundraising, etc. We are only an email away halfmoonpubsharow1@gmail.com or a comment on our facebook page. Thank you.

Posted 9th October 2022

Half Moon Pub Group – summer update

Time flies when you’re busy and we can tell you, we have been really busy! Following a fantastic response to our public survey, with over 240 positive returns, we now have the confidence to safely say there is an overwhelming desire to reinstate the Half Moon Inn, Sharow as a pub. Your responses have given us great feedback on what the local communities want from the Half Moon Inn and have informed our approach on how to deliver on that.

We have been busy formulating and implementing a strategy to develop our business plan and oppose the planning application for a change of use by the current owner, from commercial to residential. Earlier in spring, we mobilised our local communities and almost 100 objections were submitted via post and the HBC online portal. 

Planning decision – what’s next?

The planning officer will now be putting together his report and decision whether, on the basis of the evidence with respect to the planning considerations, he recommends approving or rejecting the owner’s application. The good news for the community who want to retain the pub, is that our new Ward Borough Councillor, Sam Green, supports our vision to reopen the Half Moon Inn and our objection to this planning application. His request that the application be called-in has been accepted and Councillor Green has agreed to speak on behalf of the objectors. 

We expect the next steps after the officer’s decision to therefore look like this:

Scenario 1 — Officer recommends HBC rejects the application for change of use
The planning report will go to the Council’s Head of Planning for his decision. It is usual for a planning officer’s recommendation to be followed. 

Scenario 2 — Officer recommends to approve the application for change of use
The planning report will need to be called in for the decision to be made by the Councillors on Harrogate Borough Council’s Planning Committee. Members of the public can request to speak in favour or against at the meeting. 

Why is it taking so long?

As part of the planning process the council have instructed an independent expert to provide a report on the pub’s viability, but due to the lack of any detail of the pub’s trading history and valuation figures in the owner’s planning application, this is more difficult to assess and the valuer needs to take many more factors into account. We’re following advice to pause our own planned valuation and viability report (on behalf of the community) until after the planning decision. 

In the meantime, the Half Moon Pub Group (HMPG) has become a business member of the Plunkett Foundation and has advisers helping us move forward with our business and financial strategies. We are also being advised by charities ‘The Pub is the Hub’ and ‘CAMRA‘ – the Campaign for Real Ale. 

Despite the current owner’s lack of interest to engage with us, we are progressing in the background with our plan to establish a business structure, raise funds via a share offer and exploring available grants. Going forward, the HMPG will need to formally constitute as a group, most likely a Community Benefit Society (CBS). This means it will be a co-operative, formed to benefit members and the community, who can participate in the business direction of the CBS. 

We’re also organising a consultation with the managing team of the Exelby Green Dragon who have been very successful in delivering their vision of a community pub. Their experience will add value to our plans and we will be updating you shortly with next steps. Until then, feel free to contact us, offer your expertise and time and let’s not forget – enjoy the summer ☀️

Posted 9th July 2022

Progress update – 9^th May 2022

Now that the desire for the community pub has been established and a proposed community ownership model has been researched and set out in detail, we would like to reach out to the owner of the Half Moon Inn to work with us on a more detailed consideration of our proposal towards a mutually beneficial outcome, for the community and for the owner. 

Step 1: A valuation and viability report has been commissioned from specialist pub business and property valuer, MJD Hughes. This report will inform ongoing lease or purchase negotiations and valuation and business model viability. This requires scrutiny of trading history, access to the premises, review of proposed building and fit out works, lease and tenancy terms and business set up costs. 

Step 2: Phase two of our community consultation will test interest in an illustrated share offer, inviting pledges from the community.

Step 3: We will work with our advisors to develop a full standard marked community share offer, to secure investment from local residents and businesses that have already declared interest.

Step 4: We will engage a tenant manager. 

Last day to object to HBC for the change of use of the Half Moon into residential use

This is our final chance to stop the Half Moon Pub in Sharow from becoming a residential building. Please object by Friday 29th April. The Half Moon Inn has been a hugely important community asset to Sharow and close villages for more than 200 years and we don’t want to lose it.

The process of online objection submission is tricky. You need to set up an account with Harrogate Borough Council. Once you sign up with an account, use this link to add your comment.

Once there, click ‘Make a Comment’. In your own words, explain why you object to the change of use of the Half Moon Inn, from a public house to residential. Then press submit!

We know the current owner has not explored all possible options to run the Half Moon Inn as a pub, and we deserve the right to explore all possible ways before we can definitely conclude it is not viable. Our recent survey indicated that among the 240+ respondents, there is an overwhelming 95% desire to support the Half Moon Inn as a pub, cafe and community shop. We need to try at the very least. Thank you!

posted 28^th April 2022

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Results of our local community consultation – April 2022

Our community consultation is now completed and the online and paper surveys have been recorded. We have had a fantastic response; 241 people have completed the questionnaires, covering a broad spectrum of ages (0-65+) and localities across Sharow, including Sharow, Copt Hewick, Littlethorpe, Marton-le-Moor and Hutton Conyers. An overwhelming 95% of all respondents would like to see the Half Moon Inn in Sharow reopen as a pub and a shop and 99 people have expressed interest to support the group’s vision in some capacity. An impressive 92.5% of respondents confirmed they would use it as a pub and 96.7% would use it, if it included a village shop.

We have been inspired by the insights, ideas and suggestions and if and when the time comes, we will make sure we take them into account, so what the Half Moon Inn offers, is what the community wants. A report will be posted on the Parish Council’s notice boards in Sharow, Copt Hewick, Littlethorpe, as well as on our website. Looking forward to sharing the results with you and thank you to everyone who has contributed to this community effort.

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