The pub that gave Swiss Cottage its name is now up for sale, with an opportunity for the community to buy it.
The Belsize Society is calling on other organisations and members of the public to ally with us to save the Ye Olde Swiss Cottage.
Since the pub’s sudden closure on 1 February, The Belsize Society has been working with the Save Ye Old Swiss Cottage Campaign, which has generated over 2242 signatures for its petition (please add yours!), and CAMRA North London. Now, all three groups want to open up the campaign to others, so we can make a bid to buy the pub on behalf of the community.
The Belsize Society is triggering the process to make a community bid under the rights obtained following the Society’s successful application to designate it an Asset of Community Value (‘ACV’).
The pub in recent years was run down, so we want to create a vision of an attractive pub that also hosts a number of community activities. With all the development, and now more shops closing in the area, we see this as a last opportunity to save the heart of Swiss Cottage and improving the social amenity for the local community.
The recent re-modelling of the Strand south of The Aldwych has created a wonderful new green piazza with re-invigorated businesses. The same with the replacement of the awful old Archway gyratory with a new piazza. Think how Swiss Cottage could become, with a little imagination! Let’s start by putting the heart back with Ye Olde Swiss Cottage.
Background
An eligible community group – a ‘community interest group’ has the opportunity to express an interest in making a potential bid to acquire the property – the ‘community right to buy’. The Belsize Society will be formally making an expression of interest to meet the deadline of Friday 19 September 2025.
Then there is a moratorium period up to February 8 2026 during which a bid can be made to buy the pub for the benefits of the community.
Naturally, any bid made may not be accepted and the owner may choose to dispose of the property as they see fit. They are already lodging an appeal against the ACV status and The Belsize Society will be supporting Camden’s defence of this.
If no request is received by the Council by the closing date, the owner is free to dispose of the property.
What next?
We now enter a busy period trying to find any willing individuals, organisation or public body interested in buying the building and running a pub and other community activities. The Belsize Society role in leading this bid will be as an enabler and community builder. It is up to others better qualified to come together try to fund the bid and support the proposed business.
If you know any such or have any helpful ideas we’d of course be delighted to hear!
Has this been done before?
Nationally, pubs are under tremendous pressure; indeed, The Times predicted this week that at the current rate of closures, the last pub will call time in 2050. The only pub left on Finchley Road is the North Star.
There are many good examples of community groups in towns and villages buying ailing pubs and running them for the continued benefit of their communities.
The first was back in 1980 when a community group bought The Red Lion in Preston, Hertfordshire and it is still the beating heart of the village. Nearer home, London’s first example, The Antwerp Arms in Tottenham is in its 10th year of community ownership. To acquire it, shares were issued to the community and a Social Investment Business (SIB) Capital Assets grant was received. There are many other models.
According to CAMRA (The Campaign for Real Ale) there are some 217 community-owned pubs in Britain with another 28 community-run and a further 78 active campaigns – make that 79!
CAMRA has considerable expertise: The Belsize Society is working with CAMRA North London and the Save Ye Olde Swiss Cottage campaign to explore all the options.
It might seem harder to find a natural active community around a pub in our very busy and diverse area, but that could also be a strength.
You never know who might be looking for an opportunity and enjoys a good pint and food. Some sort of mixed use to support the pub seems most likely option, given the size. Ye Olde Swiss Cottage was one of the largest pubs, if not the largest, in London.
There has been a Swiss Cottage pub on the site since the 1830’s. The current building dates from the 1960s and was extended and refurbished in its current lavish and iconic Swiss Chalet style in 1986. Then it boasted 4 large bars, a pool / entertainment room and a popular eatery. For the next twenty-five years, it was highly popular among locals, visitors, sports fans (football and cricket) and drama students and many others. Our vision is to bring the pub back to its heyday as pub and as a community asset for all and thus to bring back the soul to Swiss Cottage.
We’ll explore all options. We are open to all suggestions.
Please contact info@belsize.org.uk or phone 0203 633 8014
