SaveTheSilks

We're delighted to announce that #TheSilksOnTheDowns is once again open for business. Now under community ownership and after a major refurbishment, Cameron and the team look forward to welcoming you. We're open Tue-Sat 12pm-3pm & 6pm-11pm and Sun 12pm-5pm.

@PlunkettFoundat thanks for your help in making this a reality. Another opening for your #communitypub tally

Our renovation and imminent opening wouldn’t have been possible without the countless volunteer hours. Another group today putting the final touches to our planters.

Refurbishment work of The Silks on the Downs continues and we’re super grateful to all the wonderful volunteers who have given up their time to sand, paint, dig, carry, hammer and more. Every volunteer hour gets us 1 hour closer to opening 🤗 Like to get involved? drop us a msg

We’re looking for a willing volunteer with the skills and experience to help us with a fire assessment and advise on extinguisher/exit needs as we work towards reopening The Silks as a community owned pub. If you’re able to help please get in touch: info@savethesilks.org

…we would be very grateful if anyone is in a position to donate any plumbing bits they have spare - particularly any copper pipe and plastic waste pipe) and also any timber - battens, joists, sheet materials (not MDF).

It’s been a busy couple of weeks for the army of volunteers who have been helping us empty, strip, sand and clean as we start the refurb of the pub. As we move into the next phase (cont…)

… DIY skills, labouring or maybe just able to make tea coffee and cake for the volunteers! This weekend we’ll be continuing the strip out so paint and cladding stripping plus shifting of kitchen equipment will be on offer 🙂

… We’ll send details to those of you who have indicated you’re willing to help. If you’d like to be added to our volunteer list and receive details of upcoming working days please drop an email to info@savethesilks.org outlining how you may be able to help… a trade, … (cont.)

We welcomed Karen Gardner from @BBCWiltshire to the pub today to share how our renovations are going. We’ll let you know when the piece will be broadcast. There will be another working party this Saturday in the pub… (cont.)

…the pub on Monday 16th May from 7pm-9pm where you can meet the team and chat through our plans and how you may be able to help. We’ll also be sharing more detail on the types of activity you can get involved in.

…may be able to donate materials, equipment, time and advice as we complete the refurbishment of the interior and exterior of the pub. In particular we’re on the hunt for flat roofers and kitchen floor fitters. If you may be able to help we’re holding an open evening at (cont…)

We’ve got the keys! We are delighted to announce that today we have completed on the purchase of the Freehold of The Silks on the Downs. This means the pub is now in the ownership of the community (cont…)

You may have seen that @BBCNews online included a story on our campaign today following on from the TV spots over the weekend on @bbcpointswest and @BBCPoliticsWest Wiltshire pub to stay open after Levelling Up cash bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan…

—- UPDATE We’ve been told the segment won’t run on tonight’s show so likely to be later this week —-

Our campaign to #SaveTheSilks features on @bbcpointswest this evening. Earlier some of our team & locals spoke to @AliRVowles to share their excitement & feelings following the news of our successful grant application & what the pub will mean to the community when it reopens.

Thanks to @BBCWiltshire for featuring our successful funding outcome this morning. Great they also spoke to our supporters @PlunkettFoundat and @danny__kruger about not only our success but the success of community ownership projects across the UK. bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0…

Delighted to share we have been successful in securing £237,500 from the UK Governments Community Ownership Fund to support our aim of purchasing and reopening the Silks on the Downs pub in Ogbourne St Andrew, for the benefit of the community. gov.uk/government/new…

WE ARE RECRUITING! 👉 Ahead of the planned re-opening of The Silks on The Downs later this year we are now recruiting for the role of Manager! Please see job description in the link below and please share to your networks Thank you! The Silks Team. 🙌🍻 savethesilks.org/ops/Silks_mana…