A COMMUNITY fundraising campaign launched in a bid to secure the future of a beloved village pub has reached its initial target, meaning a value report can be purchased.

Residents in Piddletrenthide are looking into the possibility of buying or leasing their local, the Piddle Inn, and taking it into ownership of the community.

The historic pub, near Dorchester, was purchased during the early stages of the pandemic before the landlord then shut it, to the dismay of villagers.

Dorset Echo: Piddle Inn prior to closure

Campaign group Friends of the Piddle Inn managed to raise £1,300 within 28 days via an online fundraising page and a pop-up pub event.

The money will be used to purchase an independent buyers report which would give an accurate valuation of the property. Villagers have been told it is worth £595,000 by the current owner, which they believe is an inflated price.

Lynn Mailer, chair of the Friends of Piddle Inn, said: “We raised £1,300, combined with the money raised on the Crowdfunder (and the pop-up pub event) so we can pay for the Business Buyers report.

“This report will form the basis for our business plan and advise us on the potential cost of buying the pub.”

The Friends of the Piddle Inn ultimately aim to buy the pub with a share offer and match funding from government grants and need an accurate valuation of the site.

On November 27 the group held the pop-up pub event at Piddletrenthide’s Memorial Hall which was to raise money to go towards the report and illustrate the appetite for a pub in the community.

On the night the temporary bar served beer from the Piddle Brewery and Cerne Abbas brewery, alongside wines, cider, soft drinks, and snacks to go along with a raffle and silent auction.

Ms Mailer said: “It was fantastic to see people enjoying themselves. It was nice to see families enjoying the pub early on, and then seeing those who we regularly saw at the Piddle Inn before it closed.

“It just goes to show that our community wants somewhere to meet each other and have fun.”

The group is now planning another event on New Year’s Day in a duck race along the River Piddle.

Ms Mailer added: “We want to keep organising fun events for the community. It will keep our campaign fresh in people’s minds and, also keep funds coming in to help with the incidental costs involved with buying a business.”

CONTACT ME:

t: 01305 830999

e: sam.greasley-machin

@newsquest.co.uk

twitter: @samgm_journo