Penrith’s popular Agricultural Hotel is set to go up for auction at the end of next month – but confirmation has now been received that an application to nominate the pub as an asset of community value is being processed.
Alan Taylor, local Penrith committee member for CAMRA Solway Branch, said he has had an acknowledgement from the new Westmorland and Furness Council following the application he made on March 2 to try and get the pub listed as an asset of community value.
“The letter – dated April 25 -says thanks for your application. If there are any comments or representations which you wish to make in relation to to the application I would be obliged to receive them by 5pm on May 12,” said Mr Taylor.
It added that a copy of the nomination application had been sent to the town council, owner PFK and occupier of the premises.
“We can’t do much more, but at least they have to act on it, they can’t just ignore it,” said Mr Taylor.
However, he said he didn’t know if it would be able to stop the sale of the pub going ahead. If successfully registered as an asset of community value, this would give a community group six months to make a bid to buy it – in the event of it being put up for sale.
Gary and Wendy Bowden, of the Agricultural Hotel, announced earlier this year that they will cease trading on Sunday, June 4, having decided after 20 years to end their lease on the PFK-owned pub.
The property is now set to go under the hammer at The Halston Hotel, Warwick Road, Carlisle, at noon on May 25 with Auction House Cumbria.
With a guide price of between £250,000 to £350,000, it has a bar and dining facilities on the ground floor, six en suite bedrooms on the first floor and a large self-contained owners’ flat on the second floor.
