OUR STORY
We’re the Kenton Pub & Community Group (KPCG): a passionate group of local volunteers on a mission to bring back our village pub, The Dolphin Inn, as a community-owned pub and hub.
Like so many of you, we miss having a place to meet, celebrate, and connect. Whether it’s a cuppa after a dog walk, a pint with friends, a community quiz night, or just a place to feel at home - we believe a pub is the beating heart of a village.
"Our aim is simple:
to bring The Dolphin Inn back to life, not just as a pub, but as a welcoming space for everyone."
That’s why we’ve come together to form a Community Benefit Society (CBS) — a not-for-profit organisation registered with the Financial Conduct Authority.
We’re supported by local experts, national organisations like the Plunkett Foundation, and — most importantly — by you. Every event you attend, every quiz you join, every word of encouragement you give helps us edge closer to our goal.
This is about more than saving a pub. It’s about protecting our village spirit, creating a space for all ages, and ensuring Kenton continues to thrive for generations to come.
WHAT'S NEXT?
We are actively promoting our share offer - enabling us to raise the funds to purchase, restore and open The Dolphin, and allowing our community to have ownership. Each shareholder has 1 vote regardless of the number of shares owned, ensuring a democratic and fair system.
Where we are now
We have produced a business plan that sets the direction for the coming months. This covers a comprehensive review of the situation so far, the realities of costs and renovation, and financial projections. This is a live document that is expected to evolve.
The business plan
Fundraising is ongoing, with more events to come, plus the option to donate to the project if supporters do not want shares, or in addition to their shares.
Fundraising & investment
We continue to share our progress through local events, newsletters, and social media. The more people who hear about our vision, the stronger our collective voice becomes.
Growing awareness
This is the date by which we aim to be in a position to make an offer for the Dolphin Inn. It’s a challenging but achievable goal, and we’re working with determination to meet it.
29th July 2025:
The deadline
This is a community project in the truest sense — and there are many ways to get involved:
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Attend events
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Spread the word
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Join our mailing list
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Become a shareholder
Together, we can restore not just a pub, but a vital piece of Kenton’s community life.
How can you help?
THE TIMELINE
JANUARY 2025
Recognising the Opportunity
Following the closure of the Dolphin Inn in 2019, members of the local community came together with a shared goal: to explore how we might bring the pub back into community ownership and use.
Fast forward one pandemic and a new owner later, and a village meeting was initiated to explore whether restoring The Dolphin could still be an option.
FEBRUARY 2025
Listening to our Community
A new committee was formed to resurrect efforts to restore The Dolphin.
We launched a community survey to understand the level of local interest. The response was overwhelmingly positive, confirming that many in the village felt the loss of the pub and wanted to be involved in its revival.
MARCH 2025
Getting Organised
We formally established the Kenton Pub and Community Group (KPCG) and registered as a Community Benefit Society. This legal structure ensures the project is community-led, not-for-profit, and accountable.
APRIL 2025
Laying the Foundations
We connected with the Plunkett Foundation, a national charity supporting community-owned businesses. We also began speaking with professional advisors — including local surveyors and agents — to help us explore our options and plan responsibly.
MAY 2025
Community Engagement
We’ve hosted a series of successful events to raise awareness and early funds, including a presence at Toby’s Garden Festival, community quiz nights, and a pop-up pub evening. These events have helped build momentum and reinforce the strength of local support.
JUNE 2025
Launching the Share Offer
We've worked overtime and consulted with Plunkett, surveyors, and experienced hospitality managers to develop our business plan and a conditional share offer. The conditional share offer means you can sign up to buy shares now, and only pay when our offer on the pub is accepted. Doing it this way means we can accurately forecast the amount we can offer.
JUNE 2025
Share Offer Event
Our share offer event on Tuesday 24th June is an opportunity for the community to learn more about what we have done so far, what we plan to do, and to feed back to us. Crucially, it is also the launch of the share offer - allowing the community to personally invest in this potentially once in a lifetime chance to restore The Dolphin.
JULY 2025
Moratorium Ends 30th July
Because The Dolphin is a registered Asset of Community Value, the owner must give the community an opportunity to raise funds to put an offer on the pub. This moratorium lasts 6 months and is due to end 30th July. We can still bid after this date, but the vendor is then free to open up bids to other parties.
AUGUST ONWARDS
Purchase and Renovations
If our offer on The Dolphin is accepted, we will proceed through the usual sales process. After receiving the keys, we have a detailed renovation plan (see our business plan for info) which could see us opening in time for Christmas!