After The Black Horse closed in September locals now fear it could be sold for redevelopment, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Thousands of High Barnet residents have signed a petition urging the Barnet Council to protect one of the borough’s oldest pubs.

The Black Horse Pub, which is said to have been founded in 1720, and sits on the junction of Wood Street and Union Street, closed its doors in September.

Owner Star Pubs confirmed it’s in the process of recruiting a new operator, after the last leaseholder vacated.

In response, residents and councillors have raised concerns that without ‘asset of community value’ (ACV) status, which gives the community the right to bid for the site if it is put up for sale, the pub risks being sold for redevelopment.

The petition to date has 2,320 signatures and High Barnet ward councillor, Emma Whysall, has lent her voice.

Having previously supported the bid for Tudor Hall, originally a schoolhouse and granted a charter by Queen Elizabeth I in 1573, to receive ACV status, Cllr Whysall said: “ACV status can help save pubs and other spaces the community cares about. It gave Barnet Museum time to investigate purchasing Tudor Hall and do their due diligence.

“The government is currently legislating for a longer period for community groups to raise the funds to buy and assess the feasibility of purchasing, levelling the playing field with commercial businesses. If the Black Horse does become an ACV, that could be an option for us if the legislation is passed in time.

“I urge as many residents as possible to sign the petition to show their support for The Black Horse, and to form a group to make the application as soon as possible”

Last year, the council listed the Prince of Wales pub in East Barnet as an ACV, following local concern about potential redevelopment.

Olly Gough, the local resident who launched the Black Horse petition, said: “The next step is getting the application in. We need 21 local people to back it and as many stories as possible from those who’ve used The Black Horse over the years. That’s the evidence that makes the difference.”

In response to enquiries, the council said it could not yet give a position. A council spokesperson said: “The council has not received an application for an asset of community value at this location. Once an application has been submitted, the formal process can begin.”

Star Pubs, part of Heineken UK, recently told The Barnet Society they were keen to reopen the pub and said: “We are in the process of recruiting a new operator and we are getting a high level of interest.”

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