There was an interesting article in the business section of last week’s Sunday Times about the current resurgence in popularity of the co-operative business model in the UK. One of the main themes of the article was the story of Martin Booth, who organised a co-operative in the village of Hudswell, North Yorks after the last local pub, The George and Dragon closed in August 2008.

He persuaded 171 people to part with £500 or more each in return for a 3% dividend paid from the rent on the pub, which was enough to buy the property outright and it reopened in June this year. The George and Dragon is now “once again the focus of village life and its new owner is planning to introduce a shop, internet access, a library and allotments”.

Worth a thought if your local boozer is in danger of closing down, eh?

(I’d be happy to link back to the Sunday Times article, but of course it’s behind their bloody stupid pay-wall. So I’ll point you in the direction of plenty of other free-to-read pieces instead, via this handy Google search.)