The Five Bells Latest News

Five Bells Community Update – January 2026

Village Briefing: The Five Bells – Good news and a different approach

Over recent months, a great deal of work has gone into understanding the true financial position of the Five Bells and what realistic options exist for its future. One thing has become clear: in its current condition, and after many years of decline, the pub is not financially viable as a straightforward commercial sale / purchase.

This is not because village pubs are no longer valued; quite the opposite. The difficulty arises because the building has been allowed to deteriorate significantly, while at the same time being tightly constrained by planning and heritage protections.

The Five Bells is an historic, Grade II listed building and sits within the conservation area. As the last remaining pub in the village, it also benefits from strong policy protection. A change of use or redevelopment would require the owners to demonstrate that all reasonable efforts to operate it as a viable pub had been exhausted, which is clearly not the case given the strong local support for reopening it as a community pub. In addition, the site has limited curtilage, ecological constraints, and heritage sensitivities that make alternative development highly unlikely to be approved.

These factors mean that it can only realistically be valued as a public house. Its prolonged neglect has made that use increasingly difficult as the cost of restoration outweighs the value once fully up and running. This imbalance has now prompted a change in approach.

We have consulted with Test Valley Borough Council’s Legal, Planning and Conservation teams with the support of our excellent local councillor Stewart MacDonald. Conservation have agreed to formally invite the owners into a consultation about their legal responsibilities under listed building and conservation legislation.

Owners of listed buildings have a duty to keep them in reasonable repair and not allow them to fall into serious disrepair. As part of this process, the council is considering established legal powers designed specifically for situations like this:

Where a listed building is deteriorating, the council has two key powers; Urgent Works and Repairs.

The agreed starting point is constructive engagement. The council will first give the owners the opportunity to meet their obligations and stabilise the building in line with listed building requirements. Failure to act allows for legal action:

An Urgent Works Notice deals with immediate risk and obliges the owner to carry out essential temporary works to stabilise the building. If the owners fail to act, after at least seven days’ notice, the council can complete the work and recover the cost from the owner.

A Repairs Notice addresses longer-term neglect, sets out permanent repairs, and gives the owner a reasonable period, usually several months, to act; if they do not, it can lead to compulsory purchase.

This marks an important and positive step. It acknowledges that the Five Bells is a valued heritage asset, that long-term neglect is not acceptable, and that there are clear legal mechanisms to ensure the building is protected for the future.

Once the Five Bells is restored to a minimum viable position, we hope to pursue community ownership by negotiation or backing the council for a compulsory purchase order.

We will keep the village informed as matters progress but please be ready to spring into action and join our campaign to Save the Five Bells.

Thank you all for your continued support, patience, and commitment to seeing the Five Bells brought back into use as a proper part of village life.

Five Bells Community Society Ltd
Contact: info@fivebells.org.uk 

Five Bells Community Update – November 2025

Dear all,

Another critical and productive FBCS meeting this week, where we finalise the plans for 2026 and beyond.

More updates to follow.

FBCS Team

Five Bells Community Society Ltd
Contact: info@fivebells.org.uk 

Five Bells Community Update – September 2025

Dear all,

We wanted to share an important update on the Five Bells rescue project that explains the new approach to securing and operating our village pub.

The 2015 proposal aimed to create a 70-cover restaurant with six B&B rooms in the main building. This approach would have required significant structural work, listed building planning permission, architect and engineer services, bat surveys and more. The estimated build cost based upon the original proposal has now risen to around £1.3 million. This excludes the cost of buying the pub and legal fees. The project cycle to complete this is estimated to be at least three years and possibly longer.

Since COVID, the hospitality sector has changed significantly. Operating a 70-cover restaurant in a rural location would mean positioning the pub as a high-end destination venue, with extensive marketing, an executive chef and kitchen brigade. This would result in there being little space left for a traditional pub atmosphere.

With the experience of past bids, it has become clear that the only route left open to us is to apply for a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO). For this to succeed we must demonstrate:

• Clear public interest – strong local support and clear social, cultural, or economic benefit.
• A viable and funded business plan – fully costed, pragmatic, and sustainable, with no financial risk to the council.

The community survey revealed that a simpler, less costly and faster approach was preferred. We want a proper pub at the heart of the village, offering good food and a welcoming space for social connection. We are now working on a revised plan that will be lower cost, carry less risk and be completed within a shorter timeframe.

A new direction

We’ve developed a simpler proposal that reflects community priorities, stands a better chance of meeting the CPO criteria, and could be delivered  more affordably and quickly:

1. Refurbish the existing pub in its current footprint, with minimal structural change, reduced planning delays, seating for 30–36 covers, a welcoming bar, and a traditional, cosy feel.
2. Create a community café and shop space by converting the undercroft and adding a light garden room alongside—ideal for daytime use and low-cost, high-margin trade.
3. Set up a flexible outdoor area with a removable teepee-style cover, enabling food nights, pop-up bars, and community events without major building costs.
4. Explore adding 2–3 eco-pods, providing low-impact B&B income while allowing us to scale gently and assess what works.
5. Transform the garden into a nature-friendly, biodiverse space that supports local wildlife and could help unlock environmental grants.

We’re now working on detailed costings, layout options, and a revised financial plan to determine its viability. We have a meeting with the head of Legal Services at Test Valley Borough Council, and have garnered the support of our MP, and two key local councillors.

We aim to report back to the village by the end of September or early October.

As a final note, I would just like to thank all those who have put so much time, effort and commitment into creating the previous plans and bids. Your experience, insight and ongoing guidance is proving invaluable in helping the current team.

Thank you

Tony Dunne

On Behalf of the Five Bells Community Benefit Society Ltd

Five Bells Community Society Ltd
Contact: info@fivebells.org.uk