The Star in Chester Road closed its doors on July 1, with owners Stonegate currently seeking new landlords.
But Highgate Labour councillors Anna Wright and Camron Aref-Adib have appealed for help to renew the Star’s Asset of Community Value (ACV) status when it expires in December.
If a property is made an asset of community value, it means the community has six months to put a bid in to buy the premises if it is put on the market.
The Change.org petition asks to “help protect this much-loved local pub from any sale that might result in proposals to redevelop the site”.
It adds: “We need to show how much we value our local community pub and help give it all the protection we can.”
Cllr Wright said although there are no current plans to develop the pub,people fear it might be turned into luxury flats.
She said there is concern about letting its ACV status run out, adding: “ACV gives a layer of protection in planning law. It doesn’t mean it can’t be sold or developed, it just means the owner can’t do a private sale so it’s a done deal by the time the community gets wind of it. They have to advertise their intention to sell so the community or anyone else can get a bid together.”
She said a strong petition is just the supporting evidence they need to renew the pub’s ACV.
“We are so delighted it has had brilliant support from the community, it should be enough to redesignate,” she added.
“The upstairs room has been an incredibly valuable space venue for community meetings, and for the Highgate Newtown community that live around there, the nearest pub is quite a walk away.”
Dating back to 1896, the watering hole was originally called The Totnes Castle and was closed for more than three years before reopening in April 2022.
Over the years it has hosted community events, from a weekly film club to poetry and comedy nights, a quiz, eco group, and Labour Party meetings with attendees including local resident Ed Miliband.
One signatory to the petition wrote: “Pubs with an upstairs function room are increasingly rare and it is essential for the area that this piece of community infrastructure is protected. If we let it go now, it will never be replaced.”
Another wrote: “The Star is the closest pub to our house and over the years we have held birthday parties there; unwound on a Friday after work; eaten fine meals; bumped into our neighbours; enjoyed live music; and for a long time attended the excellent local repertory film club in the upstairs room.”
In its advert for a new landlord, Stonegate says the pub is in need of investment: “This corner plot pub, with a separate function room, is a site with a number of traditional features and located in an area that’s surrounded by strong demographics. The site has the potential to be a busy local, loved by those that live in the many houses that surround it.”
A spokesperson for The Star said: “The Star in South Highgate closed and we are currently recruiting for a new publican to run the site. There are no plans to keep it closed long-term.”
