First appeal to be made against Asset of Community value pub

The judge-led tribunal, the first oral hearing of its kind in the UK concerning an ACV-listed pub, will determine whether the Chesham Arms should remain an ACV or not. The pub has been closed since October 2012.

It is understood that Murkund Patel, the current owner of the property, is appealing on the grounds that a pub business is no longer viable on the site.

Martyn Williams, a local resident and member of the Save the Chesham campaign group, took a different view.

“There was no economic reason for closing the pub – it was punching above its weight and paying the owner £30,000 per year in rent. Pubs in Hackney are going from strength to strength,” he said.

Williams explained: “He has always been completely open about wanting to develop flats, but his current plans split the upper floor into a separate dwelling. However, the council say they need evidence that it is actually being used as a separate dwelling before they can enforce on it.”

Williams said should the appeal be turned down, interested parties will still only be able to bid for the pub if Patel puts it on the market.

“We have worked very hard to find him potential buyers, but we just haven’t got anywhere. We can’t force him to sell it, we can’t force him to open it, and there’s nothing in the law from him leaving it empty.

“But if we can stop it from being turned into flats, then that gives us hope that at some point he’ll turn it back into a pub.”