Local businesses are also part of the community of Henstridge and can help the Bird in Hand Society Ltd in at least two ways:
- by making a donation or investing in shares to help us raise the funds needed to buy the pub
- by promoting the pub to their colleagues and their customers as an important hub within the village.
Incorporated businesses may prefer to make donations
For incorporated businesses making a donation to the Society can be good for business. The advantages of making a donation are that:
- your business may set the value of a donation against corporation tax
- donations can be of any size. There is no maximum limit.
- we can publicise your support on our website and in the pub.
As we are trying to raise funds to buy the pub, we would prefer monetary donations, but you may consider donations in kind that we might use for prizes for fundraising draws and raffles. We would be delighted to discuss this with you. Please send us an email from the contact us page.
In recognition of your support and because a donation does not confer membership of the Society, we would like to put your logo on our website and printed materials. For those making a larger donation, we plan to record those companies on an ‘Honours Board’ in the pub. A really substantial donation could result in permanent recognition of the donor within the pub such as re-naming the skittle alley.
It’s not just local enterprises that can donate to our funds, any business may make a donation.
Why should you give a donation to the Bird in Hand?
The Bird in Hand is the local pub in the centre of Henstridge which has provided a focal point for the village for around 200 years. Many of its customers live in the village and work in local businesses. They may include some of your own workforce!
The present owners wish to retire, but no one has made an acceptable offer for the pub, which has been on the market for more than two years. A survey carried out in 2024 showed overwhelming support to form a community benefit society to buy and run the pub for the people of Henstridge.
The pub is trading successfully and is an important part of the community, hosting skittles and darts teams, and providing hot lunches six days a week. It is also the first choice for local people wanting to hold birthday drinks, a wedding reception or a wake.
Sole traders and partnerships may prefer to invest in shares
The Share Issue aims to raise at least £250,000.
As a sole trader or partnership, investing in shares may be the better way for you to help save The Bird. This is because SEIS tax relief is available to significant investors whereby 50% of their investment is allowable against income tax.
Each share is worth £1 and you can apply for up to 100,000 shares.
Every investor, whether an individual or organisation, becomes a Member of the Society and is entitled to one vote regardless of the size of the shareholding.
More details about the Share Issue are available on the Share Issue page: Share Issue – Bird in Hand Society and you should read this page and the Share Prospectus before completing an application form.
If you decide to invest in shares the application form has the details of our bank account and how to register your application.
The financial case
Symonds and Sampson are advertising the pub with a guide price of £460,000: commercial property leisure facility for sale in 2 Ash Walk, Templecombe, BA8 | Symonds & Sampson Commercial
The Bird in Hand Society Ltd has raised £145,000 in the Share Issue and holds about £9000 in funds to cover campaign expenses. The Share Issue is still open.
We plan to raise the balance of the purchase price through donations, grants and general fundraising.
The Society has just under 120 members, each of whom has invested in shares. Each member has one vote in the Society regardless of the size of their investment.