Press release issued by the Save The Unicorn working party
September 4, 2025
Cublington, Buckinghamshire
The community of Cublington has pledged an extraordinary £430,000 to buy and reopen its beloved village pub, The Unicorn, but the dream is now in jeopardy as negotiations with the current owners have reached a stalemate.
In a village of just over 300 people, the fundraising effort – spearheaded by the Save Our Pub campaign – has united locals around a vision of restoring the pub as a thriving, community-owned hub. However, despite months of goodwill, determination, and professional preparation, the vendor is refusing to sell for less than £650,000 – a price that is almost double the pub’s current independent valuation.
A Red Book valuation, conducted by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), values the site between £325,000 and £445,000 (depending on the operational status) - well under £650,000. The valuations reflect not only the condition of the building, but also the harsh climate facing the UK’s pub industry. More than one pub is closing every day due to rising costs, increases in National Insurance and removal of business rate relief.
Although the vendor offered a “discount” from their original asking price, their bottom line of £625,000 (village discount price which has now expired) is still around £300,000 above valuation. The community group offered a 10% premium above the formal valuation – a fair and credible offer that recognises both local goodwill and business risk – but the vendor has declined to negotiate further unless the offer is within the original price band.
“This is a business decision – and sadly, it reflects the real and painful state of the market,” said a spokesperson for the campaign. “We understand the emotional connection people have to this pub, but we cannot ask our neighbours, friends and supporters to pay double what it’s worth. That wouldn’t be community ownership – it would be community exploitation.”
Unlike many similar cases, there is no mortgage or debt on the premises that would otherwise trigger a sale at the market value. As a result, the situation has reached a complete impasse.
Campaigners are now turning their attention to policy reform, urging lawmakers to strengthen the Community Right to Buy – a proposed enhancement to the current Community Right to Bid policy. If introduced, this legislation could give communities a fairer chance to acquire local assets at genuine market value, not inflated asking prices.
“Cublington is no stranger to a fight – we were once dubbed ‘the village that roared’ when we resisted plans for London’s third airport in the 1970s. That same spirit still lives here,” the spokesperson added. “We may be stalled for now – but we are not giving up.”
Support the campaign by pledging or donating today via GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-the-unicorn-pub
Follow us for updates and ways to get involved:
Instagram: @savetheunicornpub
Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577249199617