After an emotional rollercoaster of a journey, Taunton’s beloved community radio station Apple FM has secured a remarkable new home in the heart of town – and it’s a location that perfectly matches the station’s quirky, community-focused character.

A Journey of Nearly 60 Years

Since 1969, what began as four young men from Somerset College of Arts & Technology recording music and news features on an old reel-to-reel recorder in a bedroom on Ashley Road, that was then plugged into the old-fashioned bedside headset radio system in the porter’s cabin at Musgrove Park Hospital, has grown into an award-winning community institution – remarkably, one of those original four, Bob Wood, is still broadcasting on Apple FM to this day. For almost six decades, we’ve called Musgrove Park Hospital home, first as Taunton Hospital Radio, then Apple AM, and since 2013, Apple FM – even earning the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE equivalent for charities, along the way.

In May 2025, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust faced the difficult decision of needing our studio space for vital clinical services. Whilst sad to see us go, they demonstrated their continued belief in our community work by generously allowing us to keep our transmitter on top of the Queen’s building – meaning we only needed to find new studio premises.

The Search Begins

Studio Manager Phil Hodgson-Purves spent months investigating locations across Taunton town centre, speaking with numerous community organisations. After considerable effort, a promising location emerged – negotiations were progressing brilliantly, relationships were building, and pre-emptive planning was underway.

“It was looking absolutely set to be our new home,” Phil explained. “The organisation there was being utterly fantastic and very positive about the potential move.” But then came unexpected news – whilst fabulous for them, it meant they could no longer accommodate Apple FM. “It was devastating,” Phil admitted. “We’d invested time and built a real rapport with these good people. But sometimes situations arise that take things out of your hands – you just have to roll with them and move on.”

Community Rallies Round

With the clock ticking, Phil went into overdrive, revisiting old possibilities and exploring new ones. Meanwhile, Managing Director Greg Perkins released press statements to BBC Radio, BBC TV News, ITV News, and other local media outlets, appealing for help finding a location.

Then came the breakthrough. Days after the publicity went out, James Eyre, Managing Director of Mambo café bar and nightclub venue, called with an astounding offer – two self-contained floors within Ina’s Cottage on Mill Lane, right next door to Mambo.

A Perfect Match

Ina’s Cottage, a late 18th/early 19th century building that once served as a gatehouse to Taunton Castle, currently houses some of Mambo’s behind-the-scenes facilities and their popular Cocktail Lounge. With Mambo’s business offices recently relocated, the upper two floors became available at exactly the right moment.

One visit was all it took. “Quirky, full of local character and a lot of history… just like Apple FM!” Phil enthused. “Sure, it’ll need a little work to make it perfect for our needs, but it’s so easily manageable, especially with our team of volunteers and the amazing local businesses that have reached out to offer their services!”

Greg Perkins summed up the excitement perfectly: “This amazing offer to home Apple FM at Ina’s Cottage by Mambo enables our community radio station to continue its work in providing local radio for Taunton, supporting and entertaining our community.”

Looking Forward

The station now prepares for its move to the historic building – named after King Ina of Wessex – with Apple FM’s amazing volunteers, fantastic staff from Mambo and local businesses already mobilising to help with the transformation. With our transmitter secure at Musgrove Park Hospital thanks to the NHS Trust’s continued support, and our new studios perfectly positioned in the town centre, Apple FM’s future has never looked brighter.

James Eyre, Managing Director of Mambo enthused: “We’re delighted to be able to support Apple FM in securing a new home in the heart of Taunton. Mambo has played a small part of the hospitality offering in Taunton since 2005 & it’s fabulous for us to be helping an important community focused platform like Apple FM“

As Phil reflected: “The strangest things sometimes happen when you least expect them, but you should always let them grow and see if they fix you or your situation. We are so very grateful to Mambo’s management team for allowing us this opportunity, and we very much look forward to working alongside them in the years to come.”

Run entirely by volunteers who give their time purely out of passion for community radio, Apple FM continues to serve Taunton on 97.3 FM – now with a home as unique and characterful as the station itself.

Click play below to hear Apple FM’s Greg Perkins speak to BBC Somerset’s Charlie Taylor about Apple FM’s new location.