Here’s the latest news from the Friends of The Ivy on February 14, 2025.
Our community is now rallying round to save The Ivy and the Friends of The Ivy are doing a lot of work and planning behind the scenes.
Our plan is to run The Ivy as a café during the day and a pub in the evenings with possibly a shop on site … and it may even be a farm shop in a giant vending machine!
The first aim is to get our share scheme up and running in the coming months so people can buy shares to help us to buy and renovate The Ivy.
The pub has been closed almost since current owners Wadworth Brewery put it up for sale in May 2024 and the share scheme can only happen once a price has been agreed for the pub. Negotiations are ongoing.
The way the share scheme will work is that people can buy a minimum of 100 shares each and with each share costing £1 that will make it £100.
The pub is listed as an ‘asset of community value’ until 2029 which makes it highly unlikely anyone can apply for a change of use for it to be turned into houses or anything else.
But the Friends need to overcome several hurdles, not least the Labour Government’s decision to halt the Community Ownership Fund, a scheme which fund-matched the amount communities raise to save their local pubs by transforming them into community hubs … exactly like we want to do.
Friends chairman Dr Paul Moyle-Harris (pictured above) explains: “The Government’s decision to end the Community Ownership Fund is a big blow, making life far harder for us and for other groups nationwide trying to save community pubs.
“In many cases the Fund provided half the cost to buy these pubs and turn them into real community hubs and we know of a couple that received £200,000 to £300,000 under the scheme which has been an absolute game-changer for them.
“That kind of money would, more or less, have bought the pub and then we could have concentrated solely on the renovation so it’s a big loss but we have a never-say-die spirit here in Wiltshire and will battle on through. There are only 400 community pubs in the country, it’s clear people love them as the heartbeat of their communities and it’s vital they are saved.
“When we did a survey in 2024 about saving the pub we had an 87% response rate which is, in itself, phenomenal but 91% who responded said they rated a village pub as important or very important and half of them said they wanted to see live music in The Ivy once it’s reopened.
“The Government can still help community pubs in other ways such as not charging alcohol duty on pubs owned and run by the community or not implementing the National Insurance rate rises in them. These pubs are owned by the people for the people which is why our slogan is Real Ales, Real Community, Real Wiltshire.”
The pub needs substantial renovation work including fully rewiring, replumbing and significant work on the drains and damp-proofing along with major improvements to the kitchen and toilets. It will mean a considerable investment over £225,000 once the pub is bought.
We are now setting up a Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme via HMRC. Under this, people who invest £10,000 or more will get a 50% reduction in their tax bill the same year. That means if they buy shares worth £10,000 in the pub they’ll get £5,000 knocked off their tax bill in that tax year. Other tax incentives could then follow.
People investing under £10,000 will be eligible for a 33% tax rebate under a similar scheme called the Enterprise Investment Scheme.
We are being as forward-thinking as possible and plan to run the pub as a café during the day – possibly as a franchise by well-loved cafes in neighbouring villages – to entice in dozens of different groups in such as toddler and baby groups.
We also aim to have a farm shop on site but with a difference … all the produce will be in a giant refrigerated vending machine in a purpose-built wooden cabin and include sausages, bacon, bread and cheese – all the essentials so villagers don’t have to make car journeys to the nearest shops.
Paul says: “We’re a very committed community group poised and ready for action to not only save The Ivy but to turn it into something special. Going back in time, it had a phenomenal reputation throughout Wiltshire, so much so that people travelled from Salisbury and Bath and had to book a month in advance for Sunday lunch.
“We are here to reinstate that reputation and restore The Ivy as a destination pub for people from across Wiltshire and further afield. It’s set in brilliant countryside surrounded by walks and cycle rides … it’s the perfect place for the quintessential English pub.”
The interior décor will reflect the pub’s proud heritage and will be expanded with what is now the landlord’s front room transformed into a cosy snug.
The pub has been home for around 10 village groups – including the Royal British Legion, amateur dramatics and a book club – and the aim now is to increase that and turn it into a real community hub, especially as the village hall is used by Heddington Church of England Primary School as a classroom and dining hall during the day so The Ivy is the only meeting place in the village. Many groups have expressed an interest in using the pub in the future and we warmly welcome them all.
The fields next to The Ivy are home to one of Wiltshire’s best-known events, the Heddington and Stockley Steam Rally, which draws in thousands of visitors and is organised by an Amenities Committee based in the village which does a lot of good community work.
Paul adds: “There is a great deal of enthusiasm to save The Ivy and turn it into the very epicentre of the community but, ultimately, we will need money to do it.
“We know it will take time to save The Ivy but we are determined to see it through and know it will be well worth all the time and effort in the end.”
