Shepton Mallet has rallied behind its landmark theatre with nearly 300 people pumping over £126,000 into a last‑ditch community share bid.

Let's Buy the Amulet confirmed its grassroots push had raised £126,350 by midnight on Friday, 31 October 2025 — smashing through the milestone needed to unlock bigger funding bids and bring the shuttered venue back to life.

The scheme, which offered locals the chance to buy shares from £1 each, will now help the group move closer to purchasing and revamping the Market Place site for live shows, community events and private hire.

A total of 294 members backed the plan, with 75 % living in Shepton Mallet or nearby villages — showing the town is serious about saving one of its most distinctive cultural spaces.

Chairman Martin Berkeley said: "To everyone who invested and joined our project — thank you. This proves the community is behind us, and we're now ready to go after the rest of the funding needed."

Built in 1975 as part of a regeneration scheme and gifted by the Showering family, the Amulet has been shut since 2011. It boasts a 270‑seat layout and a rare motorised ceiling that converts into a dancefloor.

Next steps include talks with the current owner, drawing up business plans and approaching major funders.

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