Keep Coach & Horses Local — a village pub worth saving, Danehill

We're over 65% to our goal with a little over two weeks to go. See the Chairman's update here.

As of 11 Nov 2026

£534,000

raised

280

investors to date

£3,000

average investment per household

£84K

in outstanding pledges

£800k threshold to raise

We’re over 65% of the way there. Help us finish the job by our target close date of 30 November.

Since 1847, the Coach & Horses has been where Danehill meets. In July it went on the market. We’ve made an offer, secured exclusivity until the end of November, and raised over 65% of our £800,00 threshold in a matter of weeks, with investors from Danehill and Chelwood Gate, across Mid Sussex, and as far as the US, Denmark and Hong Kong.

Now we need everyone to get us over the line by our target close date of 30 November.

This is about more than a pint. In community hands, the pub can become a hub for the whole parish: a home for clubs and societies, events for families and older residents, and a warm welcome for walkers and cyclists on the edge of Ashdown Forest. Across Britain, a pub closes almost every day, but community-owned pubs are thriving.

Invest from £250 to £50,000. Individuals, local businesses and organisations are all welcome. To everyone who’s already joined us: thank you.

If you're still considering and/or want to invest, please read all the information in the Shareholder Information section, download and complete the Shareholder Application Form and email to info@keepcandhlocal.org. Be as generous as you can, even an extra £250 (or more) will go a long way to making our community pub campaign a reality!

All share documents now available. Click here.

Without local action, the pub could be lost to the village forever.

We're over 65% of the way there. This is our one chance.

The Coach & Horses is on the open market. Without a community bid it could be sold to a national pub company or brewery chain, a change-of-use developer, an unknown private owner, or an inexperienced publican.

A community share offer can keep it independent, local and open for the next generation — but only if enough of us come together before the sale is decided.

See our recent coverage on BBC One's Sunday Politics featuring our campaign to Keep Coach & Horses local.

The feature highlighted the journey of Danehill and Chelwood Gate Community Benefit Society as they work to bring The Coach and Horse into community ownership, while also showcasing the success of the Kings Head in East Hoathly, which reopened under community ownership earlier this year. 🍻

The programme also included a discussion on community ownership from politicians across the region. Katy Bourne OBE, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner, reflected on the challenges facing the hospitality sector; James MacCleary MP highlighted how community ownership can empower local people; while Helena Dollimore MP discussed the Government's business rates reductions and proposals to strengthen Community Right to Buy. 🗣️

It's encouraging to see community ownership being part of the political conversation, and Plunkett will continue to champion the impact of community businesses and advocate for the support they need to thrive.

We were also pleased to hear our statement read out by presenter Marcella Whittingdale, highlighting the impact of community-owned pubs on rural communities, including their 99% long-term survival rate and the fact that 56p of every £1 spent remains in the local economy.

BBC News on the race to keep the Coach & Horses local.

Reporter Patrick Barlow spoke to our chairman Duane Lawrence and fellow campaigner Margaret Wagner about what the pub means to Danehill, the community share offer, and what comes next. Read the full feature on BBC News.

Read the full article

By Patrick Barlow · BBC News · 8 November 2026

Coach & Horses Share Offer

The Coach & Horses is on the market at a guide price of £695,000. We are inviting you to become one of its owners. The Danehill Chelwood Gate Community Benefit Society (the ‘Society’) aims to buy the freehold and keep it a genuine free house, owned by the community, rather than a brewery chain or a developer's next project. Below is a quick brief of what to expect in our upcoming prospectus.

We have raised over 65% of our £800,000 threshold in only two weeks - that's over 225 investors. The momentum is incredible and the pub has been busier than ever. With November 30th target close date around the corner we need your support today. No time to waste to keep our treasured pub and its culture protected for the community.

This is not a rescue. The Coach & Horses is a healthy, profitable business, listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide, the Good Pub Guide and Sawday's. It is the last independently run pub in a parish of around 1,800 people, and support is strong. Community ownership gives us room to grow it further, with a stronger kitchen, more locals back at the bar and opening seven days a week.

We are raising funds to buy the pub outright, covering the freehold, stamp duty, fees, refurbishment, opening stock and working capital. Reaching the full target means no borrowing and great potential of success, but we need you!

What investing means for you:

You can invest from £250 to £50,000, across five tiers from Friend to Anchor.
One member, one vote, whatever the size of your holding, with an accountable Board of eight founding directors supported by Plunkett UK.
Potential tax relief of around 36.25% under SEIS/EIS; Advance Assurance has been applied for but is not guaranteed.
No interest for the first three years, then discretionary and paid only from profits. Shares can be withdrawn at par after three years, with notice.
An asset lock keeps the pub and its value in community benefit for good.

Please invest with your eyes open. Heads of Terms are greed with the owners but the offer could fall short of the minimum; if it does, your money is returned in full. The prospectus summary explains each risk and how we manage it.

What happens next: the public share offer is now open with a target close date of 30 November, with a target exchange of contracts in January 2027. We need to push to make our minimum raise, please be as generous as you can -- and extra £250 can make all the difference.

Join us at The Coach & Horses any Wednesday night for Q&A sessions from 7 - 9pm. Get a full review of the shareholder agreement and get your most detailed questions answered by the Steering Committee team.

NOTE: Capital at risk. Community shares are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme or the Financial Ombudsman Service, and you could lose some or all of your investment. Investment decisions should be based on the full share offer document.

Apply for your shares today

This is the moment to turn your support into ownership. Download the Shareholder Application form, complete it in BLOCK CAPITALS, sign and send to the address listed on the form. We will confirm your payment and next steps.

You can invest from £250 to £50,000, in multiples of £250, across five tiers from Friend to Anchor. One member, one vote, whatever the size of your holding.

Please read the Community Share Prospectus before you apply. For more information on becoming a shareholder, see our FAQs.

Target share offer extended to the 30th of November. Buy your piece of the Coach & Horses today!