A bid to acquire a village pub in Milverton for the community could potentially take a step forward this month, when the Parish Council holds two public meetings to brief parishioners, gauge their support and answer questions.

The council was asked earlier this year to acquire the closed Globe Inn for the community, after a local fund-raising drive proved unsuccessful, and a working party was set up to look into it in March.

The group has now presented its findings to the parish council, which will be holding a meeting next week and will help finalise a questionnaire that will be distributed to every household and be available online, within the next few months.

“We need to make sure we are asking the right questions to gauge public appetite for reopening the pub,” said Trevor Phelps, chair of the working party. “The parish council is looking after parishioners’ money, so if there is no appetite we will not go ahead, if there is, all well and good.”

Meeting dates have been set for Friday September 18 at 7pm and Saturday September 19 at 10am and will be held in the Victoria Rooms.

“Acquiring the pub for the community would be a commitment for the parish council and we need to make sure we are getting it right,” said Mr Phelps.

A dedicated information page will be updated as the feasibility work develops and people can sign up to receive regular progress updates and get early access to the community questionnaire.

The Globe Inn closed in September 2024 and a community group was set up to try to find £580,000 for its purchase, but this proved unsuccessful and villagers were refunded money they invested.

The pub itself was put on the market for £425,000 with the price since dropped to £380,000.