The Prince of Wales was listed as an asset of community value by Barnet Council last month following a campaign by local residents reports David Floyd

The Prince of Wales pub in East Barnet — The Prince of Wales in East Barnet (Credit – David Floyd)

An East Barnet pub that was listed as an asset of community value after being closed last month has been sold to a hospitality group.

The Prince of Wales on Church Hill Road is the last pub in East Barnet and had been the focus of a campaign by local residents after it was closed by owners Stonegate on February 14th.

A statement on Friday revealed it has now been bought by the hospitality group Heartwood Collection.

In the statement, Heartwood Collection says: “The Prince of Wales is an historic pub (first opening in 1876) in the centre of East Barnet village. As the village’s last remaining pub, Heartwood Inns will be undertaking a multi-million pound refurbishment to ensure it remains at the heart of the local community for many years to come.”

It adds: “The refurbishment will mean the enhancement of a large welcoming bar and dining room with a combined capacity of 150 covers. Outside, the space will be transformed to create a terrace for up to 55 covers.”

Heartwood Collection currently runs 36 pubs and brasseries, mainly in the south of England. It says the purchase of The Prince of Wales is part of a plan to increase that to 60 by 2027.

The company’s CEO Richard Ferrier said: “I am delighted that we have been able to acquire what is clearly a much-loved local at the heart of East Barnet village. We will now embark on an ambitious development for the pub to ensure that The Prince of Wales remains a hub for the local community for years to come. We can’t wait to get going!”

Responding to news of the sale, Simon Radford, one of the East Barnet ward councillors who has been campaigning with local residents to save the pub, told Barnet Post: “”I and my colleagues Cllr Cohen and Cllr David are thrilled that a pub company has bought the Prince of Wales. Our campaign with the East Barnet Residents Association to keep the site as a pub can perhaps claim victory.”

He added: “Thank you to the 3000+ people who signed our petition and to Cllr Barry Rawlings who agreed with our petition and agreed to list the site as as Asset of Community Value. We showed that East Barnet village is a community worth fighting for and Heartwood heard that loud and clear. We look forward to seeing you all in the reopened pub for a pint sometime soon!”

Update: This post was updated at 6.35pm on March 24th to add the quote from Cllr Simon Radford.

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else. £84 annual supporters get a print copy by post and a digital copy of each month's before anyone else.