RESIDENTS in Milverton are being asked if they want to save the village’s last public house by mounting a community buy-out.

Chef Mark Tarry and his wife Adele have decided to sell The Globe, in Fore Street, after more than 17 years in Milverton.

Despite deciding it was time to move on, Mr and Mrs Tarry are keen to secure the future of the 15th century former coaching inn as a village pub.

So, they have posed the question whether it could be offered to the village as a community buy-out, along the lines adopted in nearby Halse to save the New Inn.

The New Inn became community owned in 2020 during the height of the coronavirus pandemic and was renovated after nearly 200 local people bought shares in it.

The Halse and District Community Benefit Society was created as the legal route for the New Inn to be bought with a constitution that it should be owned and run by and for the benefit of local residents.

However, membership of the society is open to not just local residents but to anybody prepared to invest in the pub.

One of the first initiatives carried out at the New Inn was to open a community café, which is now used regularly by 28 groups and clubs for meetings and get togethers.

Now, the possibility of a similar effort for The Globe has started to be explored by a group of Milverton residents, which includes local Somerset Cllr Gwil Wren, parish council chairman Rod Burton, graphic designer and musician Bev Blackmore, parish councillor and financial adviser Trevor Phelps, and Gary Whittaker, who organised last year’s Queen’s Jubilee events in the village.

The group wants to find out the level of support in the community for the idea and has put a questionnaire online for residents to complete.

A spokesperson said: “We are asking anyone who is interested in actively supporting this proposal and/or helping to provide the necessary financial support, to complete a short questionnaire.

“It is important that this provides an accurate picture, so reliable and considered responses to the survey are critical please.”

The closing date for the questionnaire is June 30 and the organisers want to know if people would offer financial or physical support, or both, and are asking for comments about the idea.

The spokesperson said: “Following the survey, we will meet with all interested parties to see if a decision can be taken on whether to pursue the community owned option.

“If there is not enough interest, the business will go on the open market, which could result in Milverton having a pub with a less certain future.

“In the meantime, Mark and Adele will continue to run the pub until a buyer is found.”

Online valuations suggest The Globe could fetch nearly £500,000 if it was sold today.

The Globe survey can be found at https://www.milandfitzmag.uk/GlobeSurvey.