PUB-GOERS fighting to save a Victorian York local have won a major victory in their campaign.
The owners of The Jubilee in Balfour Street off Leeman Road, have been told to put it back on the market.
Enterprise Inns recently sold it to a West Yorkshire property developer who wants to turn it into flats, but local opposition has been mounting and the pub was recently declared as an asset of community value. It has now been put back up for sale, with offers over £200,000 invited and a stipulation that any new buyer must keep it as a pub.
Locals now have five months to find a buyer or buy it themselves, or the flats plans will likely go ahead.
Nick Love, a member of the Friends of The Jubilee group, said he knew already of two interested parties and a meeting is planned locally to discuss a possible community buy-out.
Mr Love, who is pub protection officer for the York branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, said: “We’re obviously very pleased that there is a chance to save The Jubilee as a going concern.
"We stated in our objection document that the owners had made little attempt to market the pub properly for sale as a going concern and we’re pleased that the planning officer considering the planning application came to the same conclusion.
"The Jubilee could be a thriving freehouse in the right hands and very much hope there will be great interest in purchasing it at a reasonable asking price."
He said Enterprise had not invested enough in the pub and said it needed "loving care and attention in the right hands.”
Locals and campaigners outside The Jubilee earlier this year
He said the success of The Volunteer Arms in Watson Street in Holgate showed what was possible when pubs were locally-owned.
That pub’s former owners, Punch Taverns, declared it unviable, but it was bought by local businessmen who have revitalised it.
Jubilee regular Alex Willmott, who captains its pool team, said: “We need to encourage strong, local/regional breweries or potential owners to consider The Jubilee - it’s a pub in a fantastic position to become a proper, good local. We need the next owners to be committed to adding value to our community, who would like their local pub to fulfil its potential.”
Several people and groups have objected to the planning application to turn the pub into flats. Most recently, York Civic Trust discovered it had been designed by famous Yorkshire architect Walter Brierley and raised concerns over what conversion would do to the building.
Most recently, York Civic Trust discovered it had been designed by famous Yorkshire architect Walter Brierley and raised concerns over what conversion would do to the building.
The pub is being sold through Trinity Sales, of Wakefield. Sealed bids are invited by January 26.
The sale includes a clause saying Enterprise will receive 30 per cent of any increase in value, if planning permission for alternative use is granted later.
The sale listing is online here.
The Jubilee opened in 1897, and - like the nearby Jubilee Terrace - was named in honour of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee that year.
An Enterprise Inns spokesperson said: “As we had already exchanged contracts for the sale of the Jubilee before the ACV listing was granted there was no obligation to halt the sale and remarket the property. We can confirm that we have now completed the sale and the pub’s future now lies with the purchaser.”
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