The founder of a not-for-profit food network and restaurant which put Stroud on the national map for good food on a pay-what-you-can business model has spoken of his dismay at the sudden sale of their home - and news that the new site owner wants it cleared by August for warehousing use.

The decision, which also affects a cluster of key community groups, could lead to the loss of 53 jobs.

In 2018, Tom Herbert, who created Hobbs Bakery with his brother Henry and is half of TV's Fabulous Baker Boys, set up The Long Table as part of the Grace Network, founded three years previously at Briscombe Port. At the height of the Pandemic, the operation distributed 1,000 free meals a week to needy homes.

Paying staff on at least the minimum living wage, the restaurant's signature communal tables fed more than 20,000 people in the last year at below-cost price, with diners paying on a voluntary basis for food largely sourced from suppliers where it would otherwise go to waste. The project also feeds people through additional school and local community outreach arms.

Sharing space at the large mill, which the occupiers rescued through volunteer work and investment, Kidstuff, the Furniturebank and the Bike Drop have all sat under the same roof as the Long Table as part of The Grace Network charity, which began in 2015 next door at Briscombe Port, but which was forced to move to the current premises to make way for the the planned Brimscombe Port development.

After they left, the former port site, which included the popular Rush skate park, was demolished in 2022 to make way for an intended St Modwen home development. But the site as yet remains undeveloped - stirring strong local recrimination.

St Modwen was revealed as Stroud District Council's chosen developer for Brimscombe Port, next door to the Mill, in 2022, but the council recently updated its explanation for why nothing has happened to date.

Amid increasing questions, SDC said: "Progress at Brimscombe Port is slower than we originally anticipated, however the changes in economic circumstances in the past year have affected all development projects and led to delays with programmes across the country."

Mr Herbert said that the notice to quit had stirred a lot of emotions and left the project feeling "crushed". The team had been hoping to buy Brimscombe Mill to make it their permanent home when the landlord suddenly sold it to a third party.

He added: "We have invested so much into making this gorgeous old space habitable... the new landlord needs this new space for warehousing and we feel crushed disempowered confused and helpless."

Allied project Stroud Furniture Bank has also issued a call for action against the decision, stating: "This space, which we've lovingly enhanced with hundreds of thousands in renovations, is more than a venue. It embodies our commitment to this community.



"This is a shock to us all. We had been trying to engage with our old landlord to purchase the building or extend the lease, but he sold it in secret without any chance to counter. We have spoken to the new landlord, but he has no interest in letting us stay on site.



"We are exploring other options for a home but we haven't found anything viable yet. This puts all of the social enterprises and 53 jobs at risk... it's a matter of land justice, impacting a community built on countless hours renovating the property, and significant investment in materials. This community asset is at risk of being lost due to the way land laws work and the way the broken "system" works. It doesn't feel transparent, fair or right - and now we face destruction."

In an emotional open letter to the as-yet unknown new owners of the Mill, Brimscombe and Thrupp Parish Councillor Tim Harris pleaded: "You purchased the site not through malice or cynicism, but purely for sound business reasons, reasons which made perfect sense to you at the time and which are fully capable of justification to your stakeholders.

"You were aware of their presence when you made your purchase, but you may not at that time have been fully aware of the value and significance of the community services provided from the mill. Now you are surely becoming aware of the potential impact on our community of the business opportunity which you are intending to pursue."

He added: "You have an opportunity to make an outstanding contribution to the people of Stroud, the community of Brimscombe and Thrupp, the employees, customers, and other stakeholders.

"You could be the person, the company, the organisation that forever earns the admiration, gratitude, and respect of our community. You could be remembered for many years as the person who, through your wisdom and commitment, enabled the work of the Grace Network to continue, and for the many hundreds of less well-off folk of Stroud to have access to services and food which they could not otherwise afford. You could have the Brimscombe Mill site always associated with you and remembered in your honour."