MOTORCYCLIST enthusiasts have staged the first of a twice-monthly bike meet at a struggling pub in Hilperton in a bid to make sure it doesn’t close.

More than 60 gathered in the car park at the Kings Arms in Wyke Road on Thursday evening to chat about bikes and to raise funds for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

Malcolm Hardwick, president of the Rednex Motorcycle Club, which is based at the Kings Arms, is running the bike meets in association with Bulls Out MCC in Trowbridge.

He said: “We had 51 bikes and I would say between 60 and 70 people turned up.

“They included members of the Wiltshire Alliance, comprising the ten motorcycle clubs in Wiltshire, plus some from Andover and Somerset.”

Wiltshire Times: Some of the line-up of bikes at the first Kings Arms bike meet. Image: Trevor Porter 76959-1Some of the line-up of bikes at the first Kings Arms bike meet. Image: Trevor Porter 76959-1 (Image: Trevor Porter)

The bikers are holding the fortnightly meets to chat about bikes and raise funds for the air ambulance charity at nearby Semington.

More importantly, they are helping to bring some much-needed business to the pub which is struggling to attract a permanent management team.

Wiltshire Times: Work started on a refurbishment of the Kings Arms at Hilperton in 2022 but it was later abandoned after the former management team left. Photo: Trevor Porter 67736Work started on a refurbishment of the Kings Arms at Hilperton in 2022 but it was later abandoned after the former management team left. Photo: Trevor Porter 67736 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Sheila Smith, partner of the pub’s current landlord Richard Webb, says the bike meets help to bring business to the pub which is still up for lease.

“It was very successful and the atmosphere was great. People appeared to be enjoying themselves,” she said.

Wiltshire Times: The oldest motorcycle at the Kings Arms bike meet was a 1910 500cc Triumph. Image: Trevor Porter 76959-2The oldest motorcycle at the Kings Arms bike meet was a 1910 500cc Triumph. Image: Trevor Porter 76959-2 (Image: Trevor Porter)

The pub occupies a prime site on the corner of Wyke Road between Hilperton and Staverton and is close to the Canal Road Industrial Estate in Trowbridge.

The Grade II-listed pub dates from the late 18th century and in 2019 was granted planning consent for an extension.

The front of the pub was repainted but the remaining work on a single-storey extension at the rear, a full internal refurbishment and alterations to the first floor were never carried out.

Mr Webb says he and Sheila are running the pub “from week-to-week” while its owners Star Bars & Pubs try to find a new management team through K2 Inns.

“We’re doing our best to keep the pub going,” he said. “The people who were here before pulled out and the refurb was never completed.

“We have no kitchen and we are trying to attract food vans and car boot sales to keep this pub open.”

These include Troy Catley’s mobile meat van, which comes to the pub every Friday between 7am and 3pm.

The next bike meet is on Thursday, April 25, from 6pm to 8pm.