When De Bees looked set for closure in 2018 after entertaining the people of Winsford for 23 years, The Hive Live Ltd began fundraising in order to purchase the building on behalf of the local community.
Through the hard work of volunteers, local residents and a passionate board of trustees, The Hive profited sufficiently to pay the owners' £25k non-returnable deposit and to invest £29k in the Ethex community share offer. Over £50k was raised in little over five months thanks to the tireless work of volunteers who helped keep costs to an absolute minimum. To everyone who gave time freely both behind the scenes and on stage; thank you.
Alongside The Hive’s fundraising, the local community and supporters invested a further £51k in community shares through the Ethex platform which brought the total raised through the offer to £80k. In addition Big Society Capital match invested a further £80k in the community share offer.
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Along with other national and regional grants, The Hive successfully raised its target figure in order to purchase and refurbish the building to provide a new facility which it hoped to open in March 2020. Due to the devastating pandemic plans had to be put on hold until early 2021.
The Hive will now open in June 2021 as a seven days a week venue with a varied programme to appeal to all ages, tastes and abilities, featuring live bands, bingo, gaming tournaments, tea dances, cinema, comedy, and everything imaginable in-between!