How To Become Member of the Society
Buying shares in the Chequer Inn Ash Society Limited will make you a member of the Society, with an equal vote regardless of your shareholding. Your involvement thereafter can be as much or as little as you wish. You can vote at Annual Members’ Meetings, stand for election to the Management Committee, volunteer your skills or just give The Chequer Inn your custom. If you wish to become a Member of the Society and would like more information about the application process please send us an email using the form on the front page.
More information on what community shares are and what to expect when you buy them can be found here.
BUYING SHARES IN OUR COMMUNITY SOCIETY
IT IS REALLY EASY TO INVEST!
Please read our Business Plan and our Share Offer Document below before you invest in our Society.
Once done, download the share application form below, print it out and either:
Send the completed form and a cheque, payable to the Chequer Inn Ash Society Limited, to the address below;
OR
Send the completed form to the address below and make an online payment to the Chequer Inn Ash Society Society Limited.
Alternatively, complete, sign, scan and email the share application form to:
There are full instructions (including the Society’s bank account details) on the share application form, but the mailing address is:
The Chequer Inn Ash Society, Young’s Cottage, 28 The Street, Ash, Canterbury, Kent CT3 2EW.
WHO CAN INVEST
Anyone aged 18 or over may apply for shares.
While we particularly welcome investment from residents of Ash and surrounding villages, membership is open to supporters wherever they live.
PURPOSE OF THIS SHARE OFFER
The Open Share Offer will be used to:
- Increase our membership
- Support ongoing maintenance and improvements
- Provide working capital and financial resilience
Community investment reduces the need for commercial borrowing and associated interest costs, helping ensure the long-term sustainability of the pub.
SHARE OFFER SUMMARY
Issuer: The Chequer Inn Ash Society Limited
Type of shares: Withdrawable* community shares
Share price: £100 per share
Minimum investment: £100
Maximum investment: £10,000
Offer period: Open (no fixed closing date)
Voting rights: One member, one vote
Full details are set out in our current Share Offer Document.
The Society may suspend withdrawals if necessary to protect its financial stability.
*Please refer to our Share Withdrawal Policy. The Society may suspend withdrawals if necessary to protect its financial stability.
HOW TO APPLY
The full details of the offer, including financial forecasts and risk factors, are contained in the Share Offer Document.
To download the Share Offer Document and apply for shares, please click below:
If you have questions about the offer, please contact us via email at ciasshareoffer@gmail.com
SHARE OFFER FAQs
Why would I buy a share?
Buying a share makes you a voting member of the Society and gives you a say by vote in how the Society is run. You can also give yourself a pat on the back that you are contributing to the heritage of our village!
How many shares can I purchase?
Minimum 1 (£100). Maximum 100 (£10,000)
If I have bought multiple shares why do I only have one vote?
This is to comply with the rules of all Community Benefit Societies. However, if you decided to stand for election to the Management Committee and were successfully elected you would have a say in management decisions such as improving and maintaining the building and the appointment of the tenants.
How will my money be used to pay off current shareholders – will they take all their money out?
We have a Withdrawals Policy and we are governed by our rules. The committee will announce when we are open for withdrawals as we proceed into trading profit. Due to Covid debts we have not reached that point yet. We will be asking members wishing to redeem their shares to retain £100 (1 share) so they are still members.
Will I receive interest on my shares?
Interest can only paid once the Society is in trading profit and is decided upon each year by the Committee. Our overriding consideration when making this decision is the current and future financial well-being of the Society. There is a box to tick on the share application form if you would like to donate any interest to the Society.
Can I withdraw my shares?
You can withdraw your shares at face value, subject to the Management Committee’s agreement and abiding by the Share Withdrawal Policy. These shares cannot go up in value.
The committee decides each year whether the Society will be able to pay interest and/or allow shares to be withdrawn based on our financial reports. Our overriding consideration when making this decision is the current and future financial well-being of the Society.
I don’t live in Ash but I really like the idea of part ownership of a pub – can I buy shares?
Yes of course. We already have many national and international members. Many have treasured memories of ‘courting’ in the pub or have lived here and moved away but still have fond memories of the Chequer Inn and the village.
How do I let the tenant know I am a member? Am I his boss? Will he give me discount on food and drink?
It is of no interest to the tenant who is or who is not a member of the Chequer Inn Ash Society and all customers are treated the same. Our rules do not allow any discounts or beneficial treatment of members by the pub. The tenant is self-employed and the operation of the pub is his business.
Our neighbours/our street want to purchase a share but can only afford £100 by clubbing together – can we do that?
Yes – that is a great idea. You can all put in a sum of money to add up to £100 and you can purchase 1 share and be members. However only the first person named on the application can have a vote. One share (£100) = one vote.
As a shareholder I want to suggest changes to the tenant in the way the pub is run. How does this work?
Briefly it doesn’t as the way the pub is run is solely down to the tenant – it’s his pub business. However, all good businesses rely on feedback and as a paying customer you could give your compliments, complaints or suggestions directly to the tenant.
I am very keen to support the work of the committee as I have a specific background I think may be useful. Who do I see about this?
Please contact the Company Secretary at chequermates@gmail.com She will be delighted to meet you and explore your background experience.
Even if you don’t have business experience, joining the committee is a great way to contribute to our village and learn about the work of the Society. You can be assured of a warm welcome and will learn a lot!
I don’t like the beer served in the pub. How do I change this as a shareholder?
The way the pub is run is solely down to the tenant – it’s his pub business. However, all good businesses rely on feedback and as a paying customer you could give suggestions directly to the tenant.
We are a group of workers (20) locally and our boss wants to buy some shares to show support to another local business, what’s in it for us?
A great idea to give you all a stake in another village business. You may all have skills which can be usefully called on, and your boss may be able to support you in contributing your skills.
However, unless he buys 20 shares all in your individual names, you will only have one vote – the name on the share application form.