A COMMUNITY bid to buy the village pub in order to “keep it open as an essential meeting place” will be launched at a beer festival this month.

The Bird in Hand Society will launch a Community Share Issue on Saturday, May 31, at Henstridge Village Hall.

The move comes after the group said it had received “enthusiastic support from the local community”.

Now, the Society has published a business plan outlining how it intends to finance the project to buy the Bird in Hand pub, in Ash Walk, and keep it open.

“The most difficult part is finding the money,” a spokesperson said. “The pub is on the market for £460,000 but the Society needs to raise over £500,000 in order to have funds to carry out renovations and to support running costs.

“While it hopes to get some grant funding, the Society wants to raise at least £250,000 from the Community Share Issue, which is open from May 31 to July 31.”

READ MORE: Bird in Hand pub in Henstridge up for sale – with £460,000 asking price

Community Shares are priced at £1, with the minimum purchase being £100.

“We don’t want to price local people out of the chance to support their pub,” said Zoe Godden, chair of the Society. “That’s why we’ve set a ceiling of £50,000 for individual holdings.

“If that is too much, then a group of people, such as friends or families, can buy shares between them.”

Local businesses can also buy shares and for such enterprises the upper limit is £100,000.

However, people wanting to take part do not have to live in Henstridge, with anyone over the age of 18 able to take part.

Full details of the Share Issue and how to apply are published on the Society’s website at birdinhandsociety.org.uk.

Currently, the Bird in Hand is open and making a profit, but is up for sale as the owners – who have run the business for more than 40 years – wish to retire.

The May 31 beer festival at Henstridge Village Hall opens at 2pm and runs until 8pm, with a barbecue from 3.30pm.