CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save the De Bees building are celebrating after securing crucial funding plus £70,000 in community shares from local residents.

Trustees of The Hive, a charitable community benefit society led by Winsford businessman Damon Horrill, have won a £50,000 grant from Key Fund and a loan of £100,000 towards the purchase of the premises.

The building, now renamed The Hive, will run as a community cinema, live music venue and community asset.

Chris Howarth, chairman of The Hive, said: "This wouldn’t have been possible without the support from many local residents who decided to invest in The Hive’s community shares. With match funding secured from Big Society Capital nearly £140,000 has been raised so far.

"This helped to demonstrate a high level of local engagement and support which will have been a factor in Key Fund’s decision to back the Hive.”

The project has also received grant support from the Co-op Foundation for engagement workshops and events.

Support has been pledged from Cinema For All to help establish a community cinema.

“The funds we’ve applied to have all been oversubscribed and the bids highly competitive so we’re made up to have been so successful," said Chris. “It’s not been easy nor without drama! We owe a huge amount of thanks to everyone who has volunteered with fundraisers and taken the time to invest in community shares.

"This has not been done for us, we have done it together and Winsford can feel proud about becoming one of a select group of 100 or so trailblazing communities across the country to purchase their local into community ownership!”

Work will start next month to turn the dream into reality.

Chris added: "We are hoping to reach our target of £160,000 to fund the required renovations to deliver a varied programme."

Aside from being a community cinema, The Hive will feature live performances of all sorts - music, dance, comedy and theatre alongside regular under 18 nights, bingo, tea dances, workshops, talks and community meetings.

Trustees say De Bees will live on in The Hive and that means parties with DJs in to the early hours on weekend nights.

Damon Horrill added: "We will definitely open over Christmas. Our goal is to reconfigure the building by then but if we don't get all the funding in time we will continue the work in the new year and be in full swing by spring.

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"This is just the start, The Hive’s success demonstrates that residents pooling skills and resources can achieve great things without the need for local authority or council funding or support, hopefully the start of a community led revolution in Winsford!"

Three jobs will be created immediately, he said, with up to 20 part-time posts and six mentor roles once the project is completed and operating seven days a week.

The Hive’s community share offer will remain open until the beginning of November with match funding for every £1 donated.The minimum shareholding is £20. Shareholders will be offered half price admission for future events at The Hive. Visit ethex.org.uk/thehivesavingdebees for details.