Semington CBS

News & Updates

Stay up to date with Semington CBS's campaign to purchase, restore and reopen the Somerset Arms.

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Milestone
1 April 2026

Public Meeting: 63 Supporters Gather at Semington Village Hall

The committee provided a full campaign update at the second public meeting, attracting 63 community members. The '2 Daves' from the Friends of the Ivy in Heddington — who recently completed their own successful pub community purchase — attended to share hard-won wisdom and guidance. A summary of all the key points from the meeting is available via the link below.

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Media
26 March 2026

BBC Wiltshire & BBC News Feature Our Campaign

Reporter Jeremy Stern broadcast live from Semington for BBC Radio Wiltshire's breakfast programme, interviewing Ian Williamson, Andy Cobley and long-time villager Mike Woodrows. The story was simultaneously published on the national BBC News website under the Wiltshire section, reaching our very first overseas supporter.

Listen: BBC Radio Wiltshire broadcast
Read BBC Article
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Official
Spring 2026

Building Professionals Carry Out Site Visits at the Somerset Arms

With financial support from Semington Parish Council, two key professional surveys were commissioned: an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and a RICS Red Book Valuation Survey by David Broschcomb MRICS FAVLP of DABRO & ASSOCIATES (27th February 2026). Both reports will feed directly into the business plan and forthcoming negotiations with the Wellington Pub Group.

Semington Parish Council
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Campaign
8 March 2026

Leafleting Cinema-Goers During 'Mother's Pride' in Trowbridge

With the release of 'Mother's Pride' — a heart-warming film about saving a rural pub, filmed nearby in Norton St Philip — members of the Semington Pub Action Group distributed leaflets outside the Trowbridge cinema. Many passers-by knew the Somerset Arms and praised the campaign. "It was an opportunity to let local people know about our campaign which echoes the story of Mother's Pride in real life," said Ian Williamson.

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Media
3 March 2026

Glen Watson Speaks Live on West Wilts Radio

Company Secretary Glen Watson was interviewed live on West Wilts Radio in Bradford-on-Avon by presenter Tim Quick. He explained how the Semington CBS was formed and its plans to raise funds through donations, grants and future community share offers to buy and renovate the pub for generations to come.

Listen: Glen's full West Wilts Radio interview
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Milestone
23 February 2026

FCA Approves Semington CBS — We Are Officially Registered

A landmark moment for the campaign. On 23rd February 2026, the Financial Conduct Authority approved the Semington Community Benefit Society Limited. Registration number 9716. The Society is now listed on the FCA Mutuals Public Register and is fully constituted to raise funds and ultimately purchase the Somerset Arms.

View FCA Register Entry
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Official
January 2026

CBS Application Submitted to the FCA with Support from Plunkett UK

After detailed work to identify the best legal structure, the committee decided that a Community Benefit Society offered the strongest framework for community ownership. The application, adopting Plunkett UK's model rules, was signed by the four founding committee members and submitted to the Financial Conduct Authority in January 2026.

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Official
January 2026

SPAG Joins Plunkett UK — National Community Business Charity

With financial support from Semington Parish Council, SPAG became a member of Plunkett UK — the national charity supporting over 800 trading community businesses and 800 more in development. Their expertise in community pubs, shops and more gives our project a robust, proven framework, significantly strengthening our path to success.

Visit Plunkett UK
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Event
12 November 2025

First Open Meeting at Semington Village Hall

The first open public meeting was held at Semington Village Hall to present the results of the community survey carried out earlier in 2025. The results showed overwhelming support for the Somerset Arms to be retained and reopened. Villagers expressed a strong desire for good food, Sunday roasts, traditional real ales, and live music.

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Campaign
Spring 2025

Village Survey Shows Overwhelming Support to Reopen the Pub

In the spring and early summer of 2025, a 15-question community survey was conducted across Semington. It gauged the level of local support for the Somerset Arms, what services residents wanted, and whether they'd volunteer or invest. The results were unambiguous: the community wants its pub back, better than ever.

Download Survey Results
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Milestone
Late 2024

Semington Pub Action Group (SPAG) Formed

When the Wellington Pub Group put the Somerset Arms up for sale in late 2024 — closed since 2023 — a determined group of Semington villagers decided to act. They established the Semington Pub Action Group (SPAG) with a single goal: save the pub for the village and for future generations. This was the spark that started everything.

SPAG on Facebook

Want to Help Make This Happen?

Every donation, share purchase, or volunteer hour brings us closer to reopening the Somerset Arms for the community.

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