Friends of The Ivy Exceed Target and Extend Campaign to Raise £600,000

Friends of The Ivy Exceed Minimum Share Offer Target, Extend Campaign to Achieve
£600,000 Optimal Goal.

Friends of The Ivy Community Benefit Society (CBS) has successfully surpassed the minimum fundraising target in its campaign to save The Ivy Inn, a 17th-century pub in Heddington, Wiltshire. In just six weeks, the community share offer has raised £400,000, securing the necessary capital for the acquisition and essential refurbishment of the building.

The Ivy Inn is a 17th-century pub and an Asset of Community Value (ACV) located in Heddington, Wiltshire. The Friends of The Ivy CBS was formed by local residents to purchase and re-open the pub as a community-owned pub, café, and hub, preventing its potential conversion into alternative use. The Society’s ultimate goal is to create a vibrant, sustainable focal point for the village and surrounding areas.

To fully realise this vision, the Society has announced a strategic extension of the share offer deadline to Friday, December 12th. The primary objective is now to reach the optimal fundraising target of £600,000, as detailed in the Friends of The Ivy Business Plan.

Reaching the optimal funding level will allow the CBS to move beyond minimum requirements to fund the comprehensive, high-quality renovations necessary to establish the full-scope community pub, café, and hub. Crucially, this target also ensures the business is provided with the robust working capital essential for a strong and sustainable launch and long-term operation.

The campaign’s success has captured the imagination of supporters both locally and internationally, securing widespread media coverage, including features by BBC television and radio, and multiple news outlets. To date, the share offer has attracted investment from close to 300 individuals across the globe, with support pouring in from 8 countries as far afield as the USA, Australia and Japan, underscoring the universal appeal of community-owned ventures.

Dr. Paul Moyle Harris, Chair of the Friends of The Ivy Management Committee, commented on the campaign’s progress:

“Achieving the £400,000 minimum funding goal in just six weeks is a substantial achievement and a clear demonstration of the community’s commitment to saving The Ivy Inn. While this figure secures the building’s purchase, the extension of the share offer to the optimal target of £600,000 is vital. This higher level of funding will enable us to complete the full, necessary renovations and provide the robust working capital detailed in our business plan, ensuring The Ivy becomes a sustainable, high-quality community hub for future generations in Heddington, Wiltshire.”

The campaign encourages all interested parties to review the Share Prospectus and invest before the final closing date to help secure the pub’s future.