Membership & Support

River & Bean is changing from a daily-access membership idea into a booking-led, coffee-supported, partner-friendly model.

Membership still matters, but it needs to be honest. Public Dry Bar evenings follow the published schedule; membership does not grant additional access or guaranteed entertainment. We are not selling daily public coworking access or a magical social calendar powered entirely by optimism and unpaid labour.

Supporter membership helps keep the venue available, keeps prices closer to cost for useful work, and helps shape the River & Bean Fresh Ayr Fund.

What Support Helps With

Supporter memberships and subscriptions help cover:

• rent
• utilities
• supplies
• cleaning
• mileage
• maintenance
• coffee and product development
• access improvements where possible
• the work needed to build partnerships and responsible sessions

We are not counting founder time in the current survival target; the immediate job is simply covering the venue's real costs so the space can continue.

Active Registered Members

Active registered members can vote each quarter on eligible River & Bean Fresh Ayr Fund decisions. "Active" will reflect current support, bookings, purchases, subscriptions or other participation.

The Fresh Ayr Fund is not currently a charity, trustee fund or independent charitable grant-maker. It is a transparent River & Bean commitment to allocate at least 1% of every transaction for common-good use.

Supporter Membership

Supporter membership is for people who want the idea to survive and become useful, even if they do not need to book the space often.

Benefits may include:

• member updates
• voting eligibility for quarterly Fresh Ayr Fund decisions where active
• early notice of partner sessions
• member-supported booking offers where available
• coffee subscription options
• occasional useful things that do not require us to invent fake perks for the sake of a table

Organisation Membership

Organisation membership is for charities, clubs, community groups, social enterprises, support organisations and for-good projects that may want regular room time, fundraising help or approved trusted-organisation training.

This may include:

• supported booking rates
• inclusive or discounted meeting slots where agreed
• recurring-use arrangements
• fundraising profit-share
• ticketed event and event merch routes where approved
• Proper Coffee and Propa Cuppa support
• Happy Coo fundraising products
• trusted organisation access by approval
• quarterly Fresh Ayr Fund voting eligibility where active

For some organisations, the useful bit is simple: hold regular committee meetings, member sessions or planning days in one predictable place, then use an inclusive or discounted booking to run a decent fundraiser each quarter. If the fundraiser performs well, it may reduce or cover the venue cost that would otherwise have been scattered across ad hoc hires, awkward calls and video meetings that somehow still cost everyone their will to live.

Partner Membership

Partner membership is for organisations or professionals who want to help deliver something practical through River & Bean.

This might include:

• support sessions
• quiet coworking blocks
• training
• workshops
• supported employment
• fundraising campaigns
• accessible events
• governance and structure support
• River Cottage exploration

Partners must be willing to work responsibly, clearly and practically. The space is small. The mission is real. The admin is not decorative.

What Membership Is Not Currently

Membership is not currently:

• daily drop-in coworking access
• additional public cafe access outside published Dry Bar hours
• solo evening access
• extra Dry Bar access outside published hours or an agreed booking
• a promise of regular social events
• therapy, crisis support or clinical support
• a guarantee that River Cottage will happen

Public Dry Bar opening is separate from membership. Other uses need an agreed booking or arrangement, and Monday nights are closed every week.

Become a Supporter

Organisation Membership Enquiry

Partner With River & Bean