A CAMPAIGN group that had been bidding to create Bradford’s first community pub appears to have lost its battle after the building was sold to another developer.

The Friends of the Kings Arms Community Benefit Society had been working for the past nine months to save the 200-year-old pub of the same name, in Highgate, Heaton, which it described as the “last in the village.”

Having raised more than £110,000 via a community shares scheme and further finance in grants and loans, the group submitted an offer for the building, but their bid was turned down.

The building was then due to go to auction, but a rival bid was accepted prior to the building going under the hammer.

The Enterprise Inns-owned pub, which is listed as an Asset of Community Value, closed last May and was on the market for around £235,000.

A sold sign is now in place outside the building, and the group state they now plan to fight a proposal to convert the building into private accommodation.

Sonia McNally, chairman of the Friends Society, said: “We had surveys and valuations done by experts and we offered a good price for the building. Our offer was refused.

“Last week we were ready to bid at auction but the building was withdrawn at the last moment and we were told contracts had been exchanged with another party.

“Since then we have discovered the pub has been bought by a developer intending to try and convert it into living accommodation. This is the outcome we were trying to avoid.”

“We are not giving up.

“Any change of use requires planning consent, and we had the building listed as an Asset of Community Value under the Localism Act to alert Bradford planners.

“We will vigorously oppose change of use permission and so will our many society members.”

The group received support in its bid from The Plunkett Foundation’s ‘More Than a Pub’ scheme, which has assisted a number of pubs across the country now owned by community cooperative societies.

One such venue, the George & Dragon in Hudswell, North Yorkshire, was recognised this week by The Campaign for Real Ale as its national pub of the year.

Ingrid Dzerins, secretary of the Friends Society, said groups elsewhere in the UK had succeeded even when an initial offer to take over the buildings had failed.

“We know other community pubs which were in similar positions and when consent was refused the premises were bought by the community,” she said.

“We owe it to the people of Heaton, and especially the 133 supporters who have bought shares in this project, not to give up.

“We want to reassure you all that we are still working very hard to get the best resolution for the community. Please continue supporting us.”

Mrs McNally added: “We are now informing our supporters and briefing our councillors ready for the next stage of this campaign. We remain determined to save the last pub in our village and ensure the Kings Arms is there for future generations.”

For details on the Friends Society, visit www.kingsarms-heaton.co.uk.