High Barnet Labour has welcomed the council’s safeguarding of the Black Horse Pub.
The Black Horse pub, on Wood Street in High Barnet, has been closed since September when the previous landlord left and the community fears losing it.
More than 3,000 residents signed a petition to ask the council to designate the pub an Asset of Community Value. Council Leader Barry Rawlings has agreed to the designation.
That means if the current landlord – Star Pubs – decides to sell, the community gets a six month period where they will be the only bidder.
The Labour government also plans to extend the community buyer only period to 12 months.
Olly Gough, who helped organise the petition and is standing for Labour in the High Barnet ward in the upcoming elections said:
“We have not saved Black Horse yet, but this gives us reassurance that if the landlord decides to sell, the community has time to respond. We will keep on working with the landlord to reopen the pub as soon as possible.
“I want to thank everyone who has signed the petition to back keeping this much-loved local institution”.
High Barnet Labour Councillor Emma Whysall added: “We have received assurances from the Landlord, Black Star, that the pub has only been boarded up ahead of renovation.”
