Perhaps a few [retired?] volunteers might approach the owners ? to - in the short-term run the public house ? Most costs are for staff wages and perhaps just opening in the evening ? 5pm Mon-Fri: Weekends 2pm-11pm. The owners might at least not want it uncoupled till they decide about its future: Might also be a time [while open] to gauge the appetite for a co-op type buy-out?