A community campaign to buy the Bell Inn at Middleton in Suffolk has raised £380,000 towards a £550,000 target, with the actor Ralph Fiennes and the Blackadder actress Helen Atkinson-Wood backing the bid to bring the grade II-listed pub into community ownership.
The 17th-century thatched pub was put up for sale earlier this year by the Southwold brewery Adnams for £425,000. Residents formed a charitable Community Benefit Society to lead the buyout and hope to raise enough to purchase the pub outright.
Thirty residents have bought shares so far, and many plan to make charitable donations, which will benefit from tax relief.
Adnams, best known for its Southwold bitter, has previously enlisted advisers to explore options for raising funds as it sought to secure its financial position.
The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) says 101 community buyout campaigns are currently active, and puts the number of community-owned pubs in the UK at 237.
Support authors and subscribe to content
This is premium stuff. Subscribe to read the entire article.
Login if you have purchased
