Frequently Asked Questions

General

If you have any questions not covered on this page, please contact us

Why is the leasehold being sold? Is the pub in trouble?

Changes in circumstances mean that the current leaseholder is moving away from Reading and wishes to pass control of the pub on to someone else. The fact that this opportunity has arisen for the CIC to take this on does not mean that the pub is financially insolvent.

This is not to say that the hospitality sector is without challenges. Increases in the costs of stock and overheads in recent years have made running a pub trickier, and as such we are advising potential shareholders not to expect any financial return on their investment. You are investing in the future of The Castle Tap, not as a source of funds for shareholders but as a valuable community asset.

What is the amount the CIC needs?

We are aiming to raise between £50k and £70k.

What happens if the CIC doesn’t reach the minimum amount of money it needs to succeed?

If the CIC does not raise the minimum funding amount, then it will not be able to proceed. Any funds already sent to us will be returned, and the CIC will be wound up.

Is there a deadline?

There is not a specific deadline, but the current leaseholder is keen to move forward with this quickly.

How can I stay informed about the progress of the CIC?

Please join our mailing list.

How do I contact the CIC?

Please use the Contact form.

CIC Shares

How do I apply for shares?

If you are interested in investing in the CIC, please complete the share application form. Links to this can be found in the pub. If for some reason you are not able to get to the pub and still wish to invest, please Contact us.

Please bear in mind that as a community interest company we want our shareholders to be members of the pub community.

How much is a share in the CIC?

Each share is £50, and we are not able to issue fractional shares.

How many votes do I get as a shareholder?

In the usual course of business, the CIC will be run and managed by the Board of Directors. When a General Meeting is held, then shareholders may propose and vote on resolutions. This includes, but is not limited to, the appointment of Directors.

The number of votes that an individual shareholder has is governed by our Articles of Association. In particular, Article 53.5 states:

On a vote on a resolution on a poll at a meeting every shareholder present in person or by proxy or Authorised Representative shall have one vote in respect of the nominal value of their shareholding, for each entire £500 held. Shareholders holding less than £500 nominal value shall have one vote per shareholder.

In practical terms, this means that a shareholder will have a number of votes in proportion to the value of their shareholding as per the table below:

Number of shares heldNominal value of sharesNumber of votes at a General Meeting
1 to 19£50 to £9501
20 to 29£1000 to £14502
30 to 39£1500 to £19503
40 to 49£2000 to £24504
50 to 59£2500 to £29505
60 to 69£3000 to £34506
70 to 79£3500 to £39507
80 to 89£4000 to £44508
90 to 99£4500 to £49509
100£500010

Will shareholders be legally responsible if the CIC takes on debt?

A Community Interest Company (CIC) is legally a type of Limited company, and as such the liability of its owners (i.e. our shareholders) is limited. In the event that the CIC is unable to pay its debts, shareholders will not be required to pay any more money than their initial shareholding.

Will shareholders get any benefits at the pub, such as discounts?

In short, no. The CIC is raising this money to secure the future of The Castle Tap as a valuable community space for everybody, and we are not planning to offer any special arrangements for CIC shareholders.

Keep in Touch

We would love to keep in touch with you about news and developments. If you're interested, please fill out your details!

Your details will never be passed on to any third party, and will only be used for the purposes of communication about the activities of The Castle Tap CIC.