Ashton Court Mansion's £500,000 community share offer is now live on Fundsurfer

If you've ever walked across Ashton Court on a Sunday morning, you'll know the Mansion. Most of us have only ever seen it from the outside. Behind that grand front, around three quarters of the building is derelict, and much of it has been closed to the public for decades.

Today, that could start to change. Ashton Court Mansion Trust has launched a £500,000 community share offer here on Fundsurfer, and anyone can get involved from £100. As a Bristol company, we're especially proud to be hosting this one.

Everyone who invests becomes a member and part-owner of Ashton Court Mansion Trust, a charitable Community Benefit Society set up to restore, regenerate and run the Mansion for public benefit.

Why the Mansion needs help

Ashton Court Mansion is Grade I listed and sits on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register. It has stood for more than 600 years, but without serious investment its condition will keep getting worse.

The Trust wants to restore the building in phases, bringing rooms and wings back into use as funding allows. The plans include turning the Long Gallery into a venue for events and performances, the old servants' quarters into affordable studios for artists and makers, and De Lyons Hall into a space to explore the estate's history.

The aim isn't to freeze the Mansion in time. It's to give it a job to do again, with something happening all year round and a reason for everyone to come through the doors.

What your money will do

The share offer won't pay for the bricks and mortar. The Trust's business plan estimates full regeneration could cost £20–25 million over up to 20 years, and it expects most of that to come from major institutional funders.

What the £500,000 does is build the foundations that make that funding possible.

It will provide the start-up and working capital to:

-build a sustainable organisation with the right people in place

-open the Mansion up to more visitors and community activity

-grow commercial income from events, filming, weddings and workspace

-pursue the major heritage grants needed for restoration

Big funders want to see a capable team, a long-term plan and real community backing before they commit. This offer helps show all three.

Why now

The Trust is seeking a 125-year lease of the Mansion from Bristol City Council. The Council is due to vote on the principle of granting it on 16 November 2026, and the Council would keep the freehold of the Mansion and the wider Ashton Court Estate.

The lease can only go ahead with both Council approval and a successful fundraise. A lease without the money won't work, and neither will the money without the lease. That's why investing now matters: a strong share offer shows the Council and future funders just how much Bristol wants this building in community hands.

It's already happening

This isn't a plan on paper. Since taking responsibility for the Mansion under a temporary tenancy in May 2026, the Trust has hosted filming, exhibitions, art classes, orchestral rehearsals, weddings and private events. Public tours have started, and several thousand people came through the doors during the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta.

The Trust was founded by the late Norman Routledge, who spent much of his life giving historic buildings new purpose, including Kings Weston House, The Mount Without and The Lamplighters. Today it's led by a volunteer board with experience across heritage, property, finance, business and the creative industries.

How to get involved

Whether you're an individual, a local business or a community group, there are three ways to help:

Invest. Read the offer document and buy shares from £100 at fundsurfer.com/ashtoncourtmansion before 31 December.

Share the campaign. Send it to friends, family and colleagues who love Ashton Court.

Offer your skills. The Trust would love to hear from people with professional expertise, practical skills or in-kind support to give.

The Mansion has more than six centuries of history behind it. This is a chance to help write the next chapter.

Your capital is at risk. Community shares are long-term, illiquid investments and are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme or the Financial Ombudsman Service. Please read the full Share Offer Document before investing, and only invest money you can afford to lose.