Plans to save Wiltshire pub from uncertain future ramp up

The Ivy Inn at Heddington, between Calne and Devizes, was put on the market by Wadworth, for offers in the region of £450,000, in May.

This sparked fears about the future of the venue and the Friends of The Ivy group has since launched a bid to buy and run it as a community-owned pub.

Now the project has “moved up a gear” after the group became a Community Benefit Society registered by the Financial Conduct Authority.

A six-month moratorium is ongoing during which the group must raise the money to bid for the property and people can register their interest in buying shares on their website.

Committee chair Paul Moyle-Harris told this paper losing The Ivy would be a huge blow for the area.

READ MORE: Takeover bid launched to protect future of 'unique' Wiltshire pub

The Ivy Inn (Image: Mae Brown)

He said: “It was the heartbeat of the village and it’s crucial for the sense of cohesion and community.

“Back in its heyday, people used to travel to The Ivy from all over Wiltshire, so we’re hopeful that it will galvanise the local community but to preserve it could be to the benefit of Wiltshire as a whole.

“It’s a historic pub… it would be devastating to lose it and it would be a significant blow economically, but you’d also lose well over a century of good feelings forever.”

The group has been “tremendously impressed” by the initial support for the campaign but admitted there was a long way to go.

While there have been “strong financial commitments” from villagers, Friends of the Ivy is now seeking support from the wider Wiltshire community.

Interested parties can register their interest in receiving a copy of the ‘Community Share Prospectus’ when it is available.

Shares are £1 each and the minimum investment is £100 per person.

Paul Moyle-Harris at The Ivy (Image: Mae Brown)

Friends of the Ivy is also seeking help from major funding bodies but to do so will need to demonstrate that it has “firm pledges of substantial financial support” already in place.

Anyone who would be willing to pledge a contribution of at least £1,000, either by buying shares or making a donation, has been urged to do so by completing the necessary form on the website.

If successful, the group has plans to turn The Ivy into a pub that represents the best of the county.

Mr Moyle-Harris added: “We have to get the thing back on its feet… you can’t expect that it will fly from day one, we have to be realistic.

“Number one we have to focus on food and the angle is going to be ‘pub grub’ to a very high standard.

“We’re very keen on supporting local suppliers and microbreweries, we don’t just want the beers you can buy anywhere, we want to try and make it feel based on Wiltshire.”

Paul Moyle-Harris at The Ivy (Image: Mae Brown)

The group has also recognised that, to attract the necessary funding to buy the pub, they will need to turn the venue into a community facility as well as a watering hole.

“In other words, it’s how you’re going to improve the wider community not just the people that go in for a beer on a Friday night”, said Mr Moyle-Harris.

“If we manage to achieve everything we’re planning, not only will we rescue the pub, but we will open a little community shop and a community cafe that will be open during the day.

“We also want to try and develop a community meeting hub where various groups in the village can hold events.

“It’s building the whole narrative that we’re interested in rather than just focusing on saving the pub.”