Community groups can now say whether they want to bid to buy The White Lion in Sawston after it was put up for sale.

The chance for community groups to purchase the pub follows it being listed as an Asset of Community Value – which gives community groups time to pull together a bid if listed assets are put up for sale.

The White Lion was nominated to become an Asset of Community Value by Sawston Parish Council and accepted onto the list by South Cambridgeshire District Council in December 2020.

If an eligible group with a local connection steps forward with intent to bid for the pub before 5pm on Monday 24 April 2023, the sale will be paused until Wednesday 13 September 2023

This gives the local group time to prepare a business plan and raise finances to make a bid, but they must still compete on the open market and the owner doesn’t have to accept this bid.

If no bids are received, the pub will enter a period of protection, ending on Friday 13 September 2024. During this period, the pub can be sold to anyone, on the open market, without further delay.

The Government legislation was put into place to help communities to take over assets and land of local significance, such as local pubs, shops, and recreation grounds, and keep them in community use.

The Council’s website has details of the Right to Bid process and assets listed on the register in South Cambridgeshire.

South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Lead Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr Bill Handley, said: “Pubs are often at the heart of their communities and understandably valued by residents. Now that the owner of The White Lion in Sawston has signalled their intention to sell, and because it is listed as an Asset of Community Value, our role is to make sure that the people of the village are aware of the situation and see whether the community would like to purchase it. If there is a group who wants to keep this pub as a community asset, I would encourage them to step forwards now and formally register their intention to bid. By doing so, it will then give them the time to prepare a business plan and raise funds to subsequently make a bid. South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Communities officers will offer help and advice to any group thinking of bidding.”

District Councillor for Sawston, Cllr Libby Earle, added: “Identifying an amenity, such as a village pub, as an Asset of Community Value provides breathing space for the community to acquire it and continue its use. It would be wonderful if this could happen for the White Lion.”

Fellow District Councillor for Sawston, Cllr Brian Milnes, commented: “Sawston is a large village that has unfortunately seen a few pubs close in recent years. It would be disappointing to lose another one. The White Lion does have currently un-used planning permission to add accommodation too, so there is certainly some un-tapped potential there.”

To put forward an expression of interest please email partnerships@scambs.gov.uk or send a letter to:

Community Right to Bid, Communications and Communities Team, South Cambridgeshire District Council, South Cambridgeshire Hall, Cambourne Business Park, Cambourne, CB23 6EA