A VILLAGE public house near Wellington which residents tried to buy and run as a community enterprise is now on the market for sale.

Milverton Community Benefit Society (MCBS) was set up to raise £580,000 to buy the Globe Inn when owners Mark and Adele Tarry announced it was no longer viable and would have to close.

The society was banking on a £300,000 Levelling Up grant to reach its target, but the General Election of last year saw a change of Government and the funding was denied.

The Globe, a grade two listed building, then closed last September and MCBS began winding up earlier this year and started refunding residents who had bought shares in the project.

Now, the 15th century former coaching inn is being marketed by Sidney Phillips for £425,000, including self-contained owners’ and letting accommodation.

A spokesperson for Sidney Phillips said The Globe was located in the heart of the picturesque village, which has a population of about 1,500.

They said: “The Globe is positioned on a corner plot in this conservation village.

“The property is constructed of red sandstone under a pitched tile roof.

“The village contains many fine Georgian buildings, it is served by many local amenities such as a grocery store, Post Office, and hairdresser’s.

“Milverton has excellent transport links with junction 26 of the M5 motorway being just five miles away and the mainline train station situated in Taunton.

“The nearest town is Wiveliscombe, which is on the edge of Exmoor National Park and the Brendon Hills.

“This area attracts walkers from all over the country.”

The three-storey pub has a main bar with seating for 20, a restaurant with 24 covers, and a snug bar for about 10 people which can be used for private dining.

Its owners’ accommodation is spread over two floors and has two double bedrooms, while two of the three letting rooms on the first floor have two double bedrooms and the other has one double bedroom.

However, since the Covid pandemic, Mr and Mrs Tarry, who have owned the pub for nearly 20 years, have been using the letting rooms for their personal use.

There is also a courtyard with seating for about 10 people and a private garden for the owners.

MCBS, which had raised £170,000 over two years, said it would remain in a ‘dormant state’ with any funds which residents did not reclaim being kept in an interest-bearing account.

It had hoped to acquire The Globe and model it on the nearby New Inn, Halse, which became a community-owned pub during Covid and has since won awards for the way it operates.

The society hopes to be able to react quickly should there be any change in the funding situation in the future.

Chairman William Waddington said earlier in the year: “We are grateful for the support of everybody who has contributed to this initiative.

“We remain committed to serving Milverton’s community and will continue to explore ways to make a positive impact.”