The Globe Inn in Milverton closes with farewell bash

Last orders were called at a packed Globe Inn, in Silver Street, on Friday night (September 27).

Now, villagers have been left without a pub for the first time in at least 450 years.

Landlords Mark and Adele Tarry pulled pints and served up food for the final time at the farewell bash.

And the free house pub, which is believed to date back to the 16th century, will remain closed unless the community can raise enough cash to take it over or a private buyer steps forward.

Villagers have been raising money to keep the pub open. (Image: Newsquest) Mark, who followed his parents into the hospitality trade, said: “It’s heart-breaking.

“We put it up for sale and had been hoping the village could raise enough funds to turn it into a community pub, but the last I heard they were well short of their target.

“Everything’s changed so much since Covid. People are now drinking at home and the cost of living, energy prices and the cost of products haven’t helped.

“It’s not the way we envisaged it ending.”

Adele, who used to run a pub up north before the couple moved into the Milverton watering hole in February 2006, took on a full time job six months ago to provide extra income, and Mark has this week started a job in retail.

He added: “We’ve been hanging on for the past six months. It’s been a really difficult time.

“The Globe has been the hub of the village since the only other pub (The White Hart) closed in 2008. It’s a big part of Milverton’s history.”

Locals are pinning their hopes on the Government putting up £300,000 as part of the Levelling Up scheme. (Image: Newsquest)The one-time coaching inn had been on the market for a year, but only one potential buyer viewed it during that time.

Ironically, locals turned out in force for the final evening - in contrast to the falling number of customers in recent years, particularly since Covid.

“We started opening from Wednesday to Saturday and for Sunday lunch, but it didn’t make any difference,” said Mark.

“At the beginning of the summer, one Saturday night we had seven people in and we took just £140, which isn’t sustainable.

“We’ve been going through a real rollercoaster. We’ve made so many friends and our children have grown up here.

“We’ll still be living above the pub, but it’s going to be a big change for them as before we were here 24/7 and now Adele and I are having to go out to work.

“There’s heartbreak and sadness, but, at the end of the day, we’ve got to look after our family.

“We had to make the decision that enough is enough.

“We’re losing 50 pubs a month across the country and eventually there won’t be any left.

“We’re just another number, but to us it’s something personal.

“It’s not only us. There are a lot of houses for sale in the village and people will lose seven to 10 per cent of the value of their homes without a local pub.”

Villagers desperately trying to save The Globe have formed the Milverton Community Benefit Society, offering shares at £100 each in the hope of buying it.

They need to raise £580,000, and funds so far contributed are said to be creeping towards £200,000. They are pinning their hopes on the Government putting up £300,000 as part of the Levelling Up scheme.