In the heart of Somerset, the spirit of community shines brightly as villagers band together to save their beloved pub. The Unicorn Inn in Bayford had shuttered its doors in 2024, but thanks to the determination and generosity of locals, it reopened last November under a new name: The Bayford Inn.
Born and raised in Bayford, businesswoman Sam Lane felt the loss deeply when the pub closed. “We were all saying ‘that’s the last business in Bayford. This is going to be really sad,'” she shared with Somerset Live. However, hope was rekindled when the pub was put up for auction.
A committed group of villagers, referred to by Sam as the ‘interim committee,’ rallied the community to invest, successfully pledging an impressive £300,000 from a village with just around 60 households. In a tense auction in October 2024, Sam secured the pub with a winning bid of £200,000 — a significant drop from its 2007 sale price of £399,000.
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Despite the victory, the journey was far from over. Upon inspection, the pub required substantial renovation, with eight-month-old food still inside the fridge causing a moment of doubt for Sam. But the village united once again, with many locals volunteering their time and effort to breathe new life into the venue.
Last November, The Bayford Inn reopened its doors with renewed energy and a fresh identity. The initial weekend exceeded expectations, bringing in approximately £1,000 in revenue. While the kitchen remains closed for now, successful pop-up food nights are proving popular, offering guests delicious dining experiences.
The pub’s revival brings a glimmer of hope in the face of a challenging period for Britain’s pubs. Recent reports from the British Beer and Pub Association highlight the weekly loss of six pubs nationwide, with business rates and rising costs cited as major factors.
Looking ahead, Sam plans to recover her purchase investment and transition ownership to the village community by selling the pub back to shareholders. Currently, there are 90 shareholders with this number growing steadily — a mix of locals, nostalgic visitors, and even 10 investors living overseas eager to visit their stake in the business.
The Bayford Inn welcomes visitors Wednesday through Sunday, with opening hours from 4pm to 11pm on weekdays, noon to 11pm on Saturdays, and noon to 6pm on Sundays. The pub continues to seek new shareholders interested in becoming part of this vibrant community success story — expressions of interest can be made through its website.