Community fight to save village pub

RESIDENTS fighting to save their muchloved village pub have launched a fundraising appeal to buy it. The move follows a decision by the owners of the Waldegrave Arms in East Harptree to sell the property.

The pub, pictured, which is owned by Admiral Taverns and now closed, was listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) by Bath and North East Somerset Council earlier this year following an application by East Harptree Parish Council.

Once listed as a community asset, it means the local community has a chance to bid to buy the property on the open market should it be sold.

The East Harptree Community Benefit Society was launched earlier this year with a view to raising the funds to buy the pub.

A community share offer has now been launched in a bid to raise the £400,000 needed to buy the 600-year-old pub, which was once also used as a courthouse. The group now has a moratorium period of six months to raise the necessary funds.

A business plan for the takeover has already been prepared. The society is also planning to apply to the Government Community Ownership Fund in a bid to secure up to £250,000 towards its purchase.

A special launch night to people to find out more about the share offer was being held yesterfday at East Harptree Theatre.

East Harptree resident Keith Bowers said: “In the coming months the share offer will be opened up to the wider Bristol, Bath and Wells area, for all those who want to get behind the project to also become members. It’s a critical moment for the village and community life. Saving the pub will ensure we have a hub for now and the future.”

The interim committee at the heart of the plan has good reason to believe that a community pub will thrive. Data from commercial real estate analysts Altus Group shows that in the first half of 2023, nearly 400 pubs closed their doors for good in England and Wales. But The Plunkett Foundation, a charity that supports communityowned businesses, reported that in the previous year 27 new community businesses opened and the sector overall has a survival rate of 92%.

East Harptree village has a long history of working as a community to raise funds to help it thrive. A community shop was established in 2009 and new sports pavilion was built in 2008.

The village playground was renovated in 2017 and most recently St Lawrence Church was the focus of Project Newton, which received huge community support to urgently repair and renovate the building.