Community raising funds to do up 16th Century pub

Brockweir Inn Community Benefit Society hopes to raise £100,000 for renovations

A community group is hoping to raise money to refurbish and reopen a 16th Century village tavern.

The Brockweir Inn Community Benefit Society (BICBS) purchased the pub in the Gloucestershire Wye Valley in December 2024 after 395 founder members invested £387,500.

The society launched a new share offer on 1 June, which will end on 15 July, to raise as much money as possible to renovate and reopen the inn.

Each shareholder will be given an equal say on how they would like to see the pub run, regardless of how many shares they bought.

Each share costs £1, and individuals can purchase between 250 and 100,000.

The society hopes to raise £100,000, although varying degrees of renovation would be possible if a figure between the minimum of £25,000 and maximum of £250,000 is raised.

Supporters of the initial share offer included BICBS members living in Brockweir, as well as members as far away as New York and Australia.

Henry Morland, chairman of BICBS, said the society had been "overwhelmed" by the support it had received to open the "wonderful and much-loved" pub.

Those who buy, or have bought, shares will have a say in how the pub is run

"We are delighted that so many people are moved to join our community, preserving its unique history and helping us to build a sustainable future," Mr Morland said.

"Now we just need a few more enterprising individuals to join us and we will be ready to welcome locals and visitors to the Brockweir Inn once more."

Detailed information about BICBS and the plans for the refurbishment can be found on its website.