HUNDREDS of people attended the drop-in event at St Thomas’ Church Hall on April 5 to learn more about the community bid to buy The Britannia Inn, on Bath Road, Wells.
The community share offer opened the same day, giving people an opportunity to play their part in trying to rescue what was a popular pub until its closure when the long-time landlords retired.
The East Wells Community Benefit Society (CBS) was set up last year with the aim of buying the pub – currently for sale with an asking price of £300,000 – and re-establishing it at the heart of the local community.
Members of the East Wells CBS were at the drop-in afternoon to talk to residents and answer questions. There were displays of photographs and stories about the Brit – as it was fondly known – and illustrations of the possibilities for the future if it does come into community ownership.
Among the documents available to study were copies of the Business Plan and Share Prospectus, and many people filled out an application form to buy community shares in the East Wells CBS or took one away with them.
Refreshments, including beer and cider, were available, and the merchandise such as Save the Britannia-themed T-shirts, mugs and car stickers proved popular.
Early estimates are that shares bought so far total about 11 per cent of the initial target of £340,000 to buy the pub and start the renovation work.
The Chair of the East Wells CBS steering group, Councillor Theo Butt Philip, said: “The number of people who came to the event, and the number of people who have bought shares, shows how much support there is for this project and just how keen people are to have a local community pub once again. We have an ambitious target to meet, but we’ve got off to a great start.”
Shares are priced at £1 each, with a minimum investment of £50, and a maximum of £25,000. The share offer is due to close on May 30, though the East Wells CBS may decide to extend the offer for a further month.
More information and an online share application form are available at www.savethebritanniainnwells.org
Wells City Council has added its voice to those backing the Save the Britannia campaign. In a letter to the East Wells CBS, Town Clerk Haylee Wilkins confirmed the city council’s support “in the community group’s endeavours to raise funds to buy, refurbish and reopen The Britannia Inn on Bath Road, Wells, as a much-needed resource to the community within the east of the city”.
News about the latest progress in the campaign has been reported widely both locally and nationally, including by the BBC, Metro and CAMRA.