The Grapes

The Grapes The Grapes Radford Official Page

04/06/2019

Thank you for your feedback. It should be pointed out that it is a criminal offence to deface the property with posters or graffiti, it is considered a criminal act that can lead to prosecution. Furthermore, as The Grapes is a private property, campaigners do not have the right to access the grounds or hold events on the premises such as the suggested event on the 8th of June. There is no insurance in place to cover your safety and no liability will be accepted for any injury to anyone engaging in this criminal activity. If this is done Police will be informed.
However we do recognise that campaigners were using this opportunity to raise funds for Oliver and Joshua, and we would like to support this great cause by making a donation, and hope that they receive the support they need.
Let’s start with a correction. The property was indeed for sale and marketed by Payne Associates, contrary to incorrect statements made by some people on your page. Sadly, it received very little interest despite being marketed via the usual property channels. The Grapes Pub agreed for the Planning application by a reputable building company to take place.
One of The Grapes campaigners questioned if they are able to send in their own surveyors to access the extent of the work required in order to bring the property up to current regulations. We are more than happy for a genuinely interested party to pay for their own surveyors to access the building, they will of course have to have their own insurance and understand that the building is not safe, proof of their qualifications and insurance documents would be needed in order for them to enter the property at their own risk.
As a minimum, you will need to engage a Structural Surveyor, Building surveyor, H&S Assessor, Gas safe engineer and qualified electrician, however in order for this to happen, it would need to be proven, that the person or persons, instructing the surveyors to act on their behalf, has the funds available to pay the full asking price of the property.
Any potential buyers are genuinely welcome - those wanting to purchase it to restore to its former glory - and hopefully restore it to a profitable business, or those who wish to develop it into another community asset. However, as stated, it is requested that interested parties present the evidence of funds being available and that they are sincerely interested in purchasing the property.
Those parties that are happy to fulfil the above conditions please email Julie Hyde at Payne Associates [email protected]
It is reiterated that this sale is due to the fact that the current owners do not have the funds to carry out the work necessary to meet (as a minimum) the current regulations, nor to support The Grapes on an ongoing basis. It is for this reason, and this reason alone that it was marketed for sale.
One of your supporters has quite rightly mentioned on the page that should someone purchase the pub and reopens it having restored it to current regulations, that you would need to support it fully in order to not only keep it open, but turn it into a viable business that can sustain the additional costs of maintenance and updating that will inevitably be needed going forward.

Grapes interior
24/05/2019

Grapes interior

24/05/2019

It is with deep regret that the decision to close the Grapes Pub has had to be taken. We would like to thank the customers and staff for their support so far and feel that's it only right to explain the circumstances regarding the closure in order for campaigners to understand why The Grapes is not able to re-open.
There are a number of concerning reasons why it had to be closed at this point in time, not least of which is the electrical and heating installations being condemned! As owners, there is a responsibility to deliver a safe, clean environment for patrons. The Health & Safety of both staff and customers is paramount, and legally the state of the Grapes Pub at present prohibits reopening.
Furthermore, the condition of the building eliminates any commercial viability, the costs of refurbishing the establishment to current regulations outweighs any potential The Grapes may have, not just based on the trading figures of recent years, but also when assessed against the current market climate.
The current owners are unable to fund the steep costs of making the building safe, for these reasons and after much investigation, the decision to sell the plot for redevelopment was taken. This not only prevents a decaying building from becoming an eye-sore to the community - devaluing the properties around it, but it also prevents it from being an anti-social space or indeed becoming a car wash that is irregularly used. The redevelopment will serve to create new, quality, much-needed housing for the local community. This will not only add value to the area, but will deliver starter homes, not student accommodation, homes that are much needed in the Coventry district.
The scheme has been designed in a thoughtful way to offer a combination of homes - all with additional design cues to add to their visual appeal. They will also boast ample off-street parking and more importantly, there will be an agreement for contribution to the local community or social housing which would be negotiated at the appropriate time during the planning process.
The Grapes Pub regrets the closure of the facility but has been left with no alternative.
The owners have been surprised by the number of campaigners against the closure and redevelopment, as the business had been running at a loss for many years. The local support given now in its closure does not reflect the use by customers of the facility in recent years? Whilst we understand the strength of feeling about the facility closing, the sad reality is that the pub is not able to re-open without a considerable amount of investment to bring it up to the standards required by law.
If any of the supporters of the campaign would like to invest circa £750,000- £1,000,000 in order for the re-opening to happen - and then support the running costs required to keep it open, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
We attach pictures of the building, interiors and grounds to demonstrate the harsh reality of the buildings condition.
Please note that the building has been rejected for listing.
It is not intended to enter into debate with individuals regarding this matter, however it is felt that if the campaigners understood the reality of this situation it may help them to come to terms with the closure of the Pub.

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