A GROUP of campaigners are vying to put together a bid to buy The King’s Arms in Heaton and turn it into what they say would be Bradford’s first community pub.

The property, owned by Enterprise Inns, closed at the end of May and is thought to be on the market for £235,000.

The pub, on Highgate in Heaton, is listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV), and a ‘Save The Kings Arms’ steering group has now been established to try and secure its future.

In accordance with the ACV legislation, community interest groups have six months to prepare a bid before the property can be sold, giving the group until November 25 to compose their business plan and rally local support.

Sonja McNally, who is acting as chairman of the group, said a series of public meetings had taken place to discuss ideas of what a new community pub could look like.

“It’s the last pub in Heaton, and it would be a real shame if we were to lose it,” she said.

“We want to make it community-orientated and offer something different.

“There is now an established steering group of 12 people and we have been meeting every week to ensure that we have the best interest of The Kings and the community at heart for moving forward.

“We have talked about it being the first community pub in Bradford, and people, including our local councillors, are behind the project.

“We don’t want to lose the pub and what it brings to the community.

“It could become a dual-purpose building, used for different things, particularly during the day.

“We have until November to come up with a business plan, and it’s ideas and financial backing that we need.

“If another brewery comes in and wants to take the pub over before then, we hope they would work with us as a group to help make the pub a success.”

Members of the group including former Kings Arms regular Phil Copland said they had met with a representative from Enterprise Inns last month to discuss the future of the pub.

“Enterprise said they were keen to sell it on as a pub, but they aren’t making the effort to keep it open during the process, which is a bit strange,” he said.

“The ACV status stops them selling the business to developers, and gives us a chance to get a bid together, as well as giving others a chance to buy the building and keep it as a pub.

“It is a great asset to the community and is the last pub left in the village.

“It would be a shame to see it turned into flats or housing.

“We have talked about what else the building could be used for, such as a library point, a place to hold councillor’s surgeries, or a coffee house during the day.

“We want the entire community in Heaton to get behind the project, and we are open to all ideas.”

A spokesman for Enterprise Inns said: ”As part of our on-going business, we do from time to time identify a pub that may no longer have a long-term future in our estate.

"After careful consideration, the decision has been made to sell the freehold of the Kings Arms and the pub is currently being openly marketed."

For further details, visit the steering group’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/thekingsarmsheaton.