Reopening of The Bird in Hand in Henstridge as a community benefit society pub

That this House celebrates the reopening of The Bird in Hand in Henstridge as a community benefit society pub on the 1st April 2026; notes that this achievement follows more than two years of sustained work since the initial public meeting at which proposals to purchase the pub were first presented to residents; congratulates the local community on raising the necessary funds through a community share offer and a range of fundraising activities; recognises the pub’s importance as a social hub for Henstridge and its surrounding areas, hosting skittles and darts teams, quiz nights, live music and sports, and providing home-cooked meals throughout the week, with it widely being regarded as the ‘sitting room of the village’; commends The Bird in Hand Society Ltd, its Chair Hugo Barton, and all those involved for their commitment in helping to preserve the pub as a centre of community life; and calls on the Government to support the long-term sustainability of pubs and the wider hospitality sector by reducing VAT by 5% until April 2027, reversing the proposed increase in alcohol duty and replacing the current business rates system with a fairer Commercial Landowner Levy based on land values, to ensure that pubs such as The Bird in Hand can remain viable and continue to serve their communities.