The Somerset Arms in Semington has been closed since 2023 and is currently on the market for £395k plus VAT.
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The Prince of Wales donated £1,000 to the Semington Community Benefit Society, which is seeking to buy, refurbish and reopen the Wiltshire village pub as a community hub.
A royal request
The group had previously invited Prince William to pull the first pint if the pub is saved, after he spoke publicly about the importance of protecting rural pubs.
In a letter to the society, Prince William wrote: “I am very keen to support the role that pubs play, not only as businesses, but as community hubs that contribute so much to the fabric of our nation.
“I’ll be making a donation privately and I look forward to coming down to pull a pint and celebrate your success. Good luck!”
Community ownership
Andy Cobley, vice chair of Semington Community Benefit Society, told The Morning Advertiser (MA) the campaign had seen a significant boost since the donation and letter of support.
He said: “It has been an amazing couple of days for our campaign since Prince William made his generous personal donation and letter of support for our campaign to save the Somerset Arms in Semington.
“We are currently asking people to make a pledge, to buy shares later in the year when we seek to raise the money to buy the freehold, refurbish the pub and reopen the doors as a community hub.
“We are so pleased that pledges have increased since the story broke in the media and we are now over £200,000 and rising. We feel this trajectory gives us the confidence to start negotiations to buy the freehold from the vendor, the Wellington Group.”
Cobley added: “We want the Somerset Arms to reflect the diverse needs of the community, not just a pub, but somewhere where friendships can be nurtured and to combat loneliness.
“The fantastic support of His Royal Highness underpins the message of the value of pubs in the community. He is held in such high regard and his huge appeal worldwide is already having a very positive impact. We are very grateful.”
The Somerset Arms is the village’s only remaining pub and has origins dating back to at least the 18th century, according to the campaign. The group’s vision is to reopen the site as a pub and restaurant with a private meeting room, dining and games areas, letting rooms and a garden.
The campaign follows Prince William’s recent visit to the Prince of Peckham in south London, where he praised the role pubs play in supporting communities and tackling loneliness.
During the visit, he said: “I love pubs. I want to do as much as I can to support them because I love the community. We need to protect our pubs.”
The news also comes after the Government’s announcement earlier this week of a new £61m Community Right to Buy Fund, designed to help local people take ownership of community assets at risk of closure, including pubs.
The pledge appeal by the Semington Community Benefit Society has been extended to 1 August.
- Supporters can find out more through the Save the Somerset Arms website, dedicated Facebook page and Crowdfunder campaign.
