TIMELINE
January 2026
We Did It!
We’ve raised £150,000. Enough to BUY The Dolphin
December 2025
Sale Agreed!
Negotiated a viable purchase agreement with the owner.
July 2025
Moratorium Ended 30th July
Because The Dolphin is a registered Asset of Community Value, the owner originally had to give the community an opportunity to raise funds to put an offer on the pub. The owner has now accepted our offer and we are working to complete the sale in 2026.
June, 2025
Share Offer Launch
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.
The share offer allows the community to personally invest in this potentially once in a lifetime chance to restore The Dolphin.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.