Community shares offer helps reclaim the New Clarence

Behind the growth of co-operatives – an increase of more than 50% in five years – are community-minded people turning into local business owners. They are driven by pride, purpose and the desire to make places better.

In Hull, that movement found a home in The New Clarence – a much-loved city-centre pub with deep roots in the co-operative movement. Originally a co-op store in 1919 and later, a meeting space and education centre for local co-operators, it has long been a gathering spot for choirs, local history groups, men’s health circles and even adult LEGO fans.

When the building was listed for sale in 2023, a group of regulars launched a bold campaign to stop it being redeveloped into a 20-bed house of multiple occupation. The idea of turning the pub into a community asset “lit a spark” according to Catherine Murray, who was one of those regulars.

When the owners agreed to sell, the group registered as a community benefit society (Hull Community Pub Society) with support from Co-operatives UK – and began preparing a community shares offer.

With a £10,000 development grant from the Community Shares Booster Fund, the group was able to build a business case and produce a share offer that raised £85,000 from local people, attracting 440 members. A further £75,000 in match equity and a £250,000 grant from the government’s Community Ownership Fund followed. 

“The £10,000 Booster Fund development grant was critical,” said Catherine. “It meant we could get professional help to put together a business plan that funders would take seriously. The Community Shares Standard Mark was key – it shows that your business case makes sense, and you are a credible organisation. We wouldn’t have qualified for the COF or Booster match funding without it.” 

After months of uncertainty, the sale went through. Extensive works followed, including energy efficiency retrofitting and volunteers mucking in to get the place spick and span – and the New Clarence re-opened to the public on 5 September 2025. 

“It has been so nice to see the pub open and bustling with old friends reuniting and new friendships being made. We’re starting to see the return of the groups and teams that used to use the pub as a community space – and we’ll be promoting that in the coming weeks,” said Catherine. 

“We have grand plans for the function room which still requires some work and some fundraising.”

Find out more

Hull Community Pub Society – The New Clarence: Website | Facebook | Instagram