Pubs minister Brandon Lewis to announce Asset of Community Value milestone

Lewis will make the announcement while opening the GBBF, run by the Campaign for Real Ale.

Under new Community Right to Bid powers introduced through the Localism Act, listing a pub as an ACV with the council means a pub can’t be sold on without the local community being told. It gives the council greater ability to refuse planning applications from developers and the community up to six months to put in a bid to buy the pub should it be put up for sale.

Lewis said: “CAMRA’s campaign to List your local is doing a fabulous job raising awareness of our new Community Right to Bid and I am delighted that in 100 loved locals have now been listed as assets of community value. Cheers to each and every one.

Safeguard​

“We have known for hundreds of years just how valuable our locals are. Not just as a place to grab a pint but also to the economies and communities of those they serve and that is why we are doing everything we can to support and safeguard community pubs from closure.”

CAMRA’s chief executive Mike Benner said: “CAMRA is delighted that the Government has recognised the vital importance of pubs and empowered communities to protect them. By listing their local, communities are ensuring that if the pub is under threat in the future, there is a much-needed extra layer of protection which 'stops the clock' should it be put up for sale.”

The announcement that 100 pubs have been listed as ACVs means pubs are the most listed community building and among the most popular listed asset overall, second only to playing fields.

The CAMRA ‘List Your Local’ campaign aims to get 300 pubs listed as community assets.

The GBBF will be officially opened by tomorrow 13 August. For more information visit the festival website​