Frequently Asked Questions

Ashton Court Mansion Trust (ACMT) is a charity established to secure a sustainable future for Ashton Court Mansion.

Founded by the late Norman Routledge, the organisation was originally known as Bristol Historic Buildings Trust. Norman had spent decades championing Bristol's historic buildings, including Kings Weston House, The Lamplighters and St Michael on the Mount Without.

In September 2026, we became Ashton Court Mansion Trust and converted into a charitable community benefit society. This structure allows people to become members, invest through community shares and have a democratic say in the Trust's future.

Our sole purpose is to regenerate Ashton Court Mansion and operate it for public benefit.

No. Ashton Court Mansion remains owned by Bristol City Council, which will retain the freehold under our proposals.

We're seeking a 125-year lease, not ownership of the building. Ashton Court Mansion Trust is a charitable community benefit society. It will be governed by its members, with one vote per member regardless of how much they've invested.

Our purpose is to regenerate the Mansion for public benefit, not to develop it for private residential use or profit.

No. We're not planning private residential flats, and the Mansion won't be solely an exclusive events venue. Our proposals combine public programmes, heritage interpretation, arts and cultural activities, learning, studios and workspaces with commercial uses.

Weddings and private events are an important part of the model: they help meet running costs and support our charitable work. They aren't a substitute for public access and community benefit. As regeneration progresses, we intend to bring more spaces into use, including artist studios above the Music Room.

We aren't planning to convert the Mansion into residential flats.

Our regeneration proposals do include guest accommodation in the North West Wing. This would support weddings and other events, while potentially providing another source of income for the Trust. These would be short-stay guest rooms, not permanent homes.

We also intend to use the existing caretaker's flat as a base for heritage archives and related activities.

Bristol City Council owns the Mansion and will retain the freehold. In October 2025, councillors unanimously agreed to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Trust to explore a long-term future for the building.

We began agreed critical repairs in early 2026 and took occupation under a tenancy at will in May. We now manage the Mansion day to day while negotiating a proposed 125-year lease with the Council. A Council decision on the lease in principle is expected in November 2026.

The wider Ashton Court Estate, including the parkland, deer park, car park and public facilities, remains under Council management.

A place for everyone.

We want Ashton Court Mansion to become somewhere people come to learn, create, celebrate, explore its history, enjoy good food and spend time together.

Our charitable programme is organised around five areas: Culture, Arts & Wellbeing; Heritage; Skills; Food; and Nature.

Alongside this, weddings, events, hospitality, workspaces and accommodation will generate income to help maintain the building and sustain its charitable activities. The aim is a Mansion that can look after itself financially while making a meaningful contribution to Bristol's cultural and community life.

Yes. Our proposals build on years of professional work and public engagement, rather than starting from scratch.

In 2019, heritage architects Purcell produced an options appraisal for Bristol City Council examining possible futures for the Mansion. In 2021, the Council and The Prince's Foundation ran an Enquiry by Design process, informed by a survey of more than 900 people and involving local residents, organisations and businesses.

That work helped establish the case for a mixed-use, community-focused future. Our plans continue to develop through conservation advice, practical experience of running the building and conversations with the people and organisations who want to use it.

No. Our proposed lease covers the Mansion and associated courtyard, with arrangements for access to the formal gardens and lawns. It does not include the wider Ashton Court Estate.

The parkland, deer park, car park, café and public facilities will remain under Bristol City Council's management. The Council will retain the freehold of the Mansion and the wider estate.

The gardens and lawns immediately surrounding the Mansion are part of our discussions with Bristol City Council. Our proposed arrangements would allow us to use these spaces alongside the Council, rather than take them over exclusively.

We want to work with the Council and others to improve the gardens and create opportunities for outdoor events, learning and volunteering. Public access would remain the principle, although particular areas may occasionally need to close for events or safety.

We'd like visitors to have a better welcome when they arrive at Ashton Court. The existing café, courtyard and visitor facilities are outside our proposed lease and remain under Bristol City Council's arrangements.

In the longer term, we'd like to explore bringing these spaces more closely into the Mansion's offer, working with the Council and existing interests. This is an ambition, not something agreed or included in our current operating plan.

Tens of millions of pounds, over many years.

Our current business plan anticipates approximately £12 million of regeneration works during the first five years, with further phases to follow. Importantly, we're funding two different things.

First, we need to establish a financially sustainable organisation that can run the Mansion, develop its community programme and meet its day-to-day costs. Separately, the physical regeneration will be funded principally through major grants, philanthropy and dedicated fundraising.

Our community share offer is intended to provide the initial capital needed to establish and grow the Trust's operations. It isn't intended to pay for the major building works themselves.

Our planned community share offer will give people the opportunity to invest in Ashton Court Mansion Trust and become members of the organisation responsible for the Mansion's future.

Membership comes with a democratic say in how the Trust is run. Every member has one vote, regardless of the amount invested.

The money raised will help establish the Trust as a financially sustainable organisation, supporting its operations and community programme as we begin the long-term regeneration of the building.

Community shares are an investment, not a donation, and carry financial risk. We'll publish full information about the offer when it launches.

Yes. Increasing opportunities for people to visit and use the Mansion is central to our plans.

That includes public open days, guided tours, exhibitions, workshops, learning activities and community events.

The Mansion won't be open to visitors at all times. Some spaces will be used for private events, while others will be unavailable during conservation work. But our aim is to bring more of the building into use, for more people, as regeneration progresses.

There are plenty of ways to get involved. You can volunteer your time or skills, attend an event or open day, share an idea, work with us as a partner or make a donation.

We're also preparing a community share offer, which will provide another way to support the Trust once it launches. In the meantime, spreading the word and joining our mailing list make a real difference.

Visit our Support Us page or get in touch to find out how you can help.