Wighill pub's community asset bid rejected by council

Summarised from 4 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 30 Oct, 06:34 · Archive

Wighill Parish Council's bid to register The White Swan pub as a community asset has been rejected, though its new landlord promises it will remain open.

Wighill Parish Council applied to register The White Swan as an asset of community value (ACV), which would have given villagers a chance to bid for the property if it came up for sale. The council's assessment rejected the application, concluding that while the pub had hosted community events, there was not enough evidence to demonstrate significant community use beyond its normal operation as a hospitality business.

The parish council had argued that the pub was vital to the village, which has no community centre, village hall or school. Its nomination listed 27 activities and events including Christmas celebrations, bonfire nights, beer festivals, quiz nights, book clubs, film clubs, knitting groups, parish council meetings and elections. The pub also supported residents during the pandemic by providing takeaway meals and baked bread deliveries.

However, council officers said that about half of the listed activities were commonly associated with running a traditional rural pub. The report noted that 'no testimonials, representations or letters of support were submitted from local residents' and that no evidence showed local community groups relied on the premises. Social media posts proved events took place but did not establish how regularly or how many people attended.

The White Swan closed in June when its previous publicans retired and reopened earlier this month under new ownership. Landlord Tom Brown, who already runs several pubs in York, said he had taken on a long lease to secure the pub's future. 'We've got a good chef in the kitchen, letting bedrooms and some big plans for the place,' he said. 'The pub is here to stay and it's definitely not being turned into housing.'

How it is being reported

• Village pub protection bid rejected but new landlord says it is 'here to stay'Wighill’s White Swan pub asset of community value bid rejected, but new landlord Tom Brown says the Tadcaster-area venue will stay open, not become housing.The Press (York) · 30 Oct, 08:00
• Village pub protection bid rejected but new landlord says it is 'here to stay'Wighill’s White Swan pub asset of community value bid rejected, but new landlord Tom Brown says the Tadcaster-area venue will stay open, not become housing.Gazette & Herald (Malton) · 30 Oct, 08:00
• Community asset application for pub rejectedThe parish council applied to protect The White Swan pub, which is now under new ownership.BBC York And North Yorkshire · 30 Oct, 06:03
• Pub's bid for community asset status rejected — but landlord promises bright futureWighill’s White Swan pub asset of community value bid rejected, but new landlord Tom Brown says the Tadcaster-area venue will stay open, not become housing.Gazette & Herald (Malton) · 29 Oct, 17:03
• Pub's bid for community asset status rejected — but landlord promises bright futureWighill’s White Swan pub asset of community value bid rejected, but new landlord Tom Brown says the Tadcaster-area venue will stay open, not become housing.York Press · 29 Oct, 17:03

In this story: The White Swan · Wighill · Tadcaster · Wighill Parish Council · Tom Brown · York

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log