A historic old pub, which gave Swiss Cottage station its name, has been saved from demolition for at least five years after it was granted protected status.
Ye Olde Swiss Cottage served its last orders on February 1 after its owners Samuel Smith’s Brewery decided to close the pub out of the blue.
The once popular spot, which the Standard previously dubbed one of London’s most eccentric pubs, was famed for resembling a Swiss chalet.
The original pub dated back to the 1830s, when it was built as a coaching inn near a tollgate. The area was surrounded by fields at the time, making it a convenient stop for travellers.
However, the current building, constructed in 1930 and resembling an Alpine chalet, was not listed by Historic England and therefore not safeguarded from potential redevelopment.
Now, the pub’s protected status has changed, thanks to applications from different local councillors and organisations.
On April 16 this year, Camden Council approved applications from Labour councillors, the Belsize Society, as well as Camra (Campaign for Real Ale) North London, to have the pub listed as an asset of community value (ACV). This means the pub will be protected from demolition for the next five years.
Should it be put on the market during that time, local campaign groups and residents will have six months to raise money to bid for it.
Speaking to Ham & High newspaper, Alan Selwyn, planning lead at the Belsize Society, said the organisation was “delighted” by the news and had already begun efforts to return the pub to public use.
He told the publication: “We are keen to work with the current owners to come up with a solution that benefits the community.”
John Cryne, former chair of Camra North London, said it had come as a “complete surprise” that the owners were going to close the pub, noting how there are not many pubs left in the area.
He added: “Camra wants to save pubs because they sell good beer but we also want to save them because they are part of the community.
"We want that community to continue, which is why we put in so much effort into saving pubs as we can.”
More pubs closed in London in the first six months of this year than anywhere else in England, a study has found.
The capital lost 46 watering holes up to the end of June, according to data from real estate analysts Altus Group.
Across the UK as a whole, 383 pubs closed in the same period.
Samuel Smiths Brewery has been contacted by The Standard for comment.
