The Lamb inn

Updated 15 September 2022

Currently The Lamb is closed, and was the subject of an appeal by the owner against refusal of planning permission for change-of-use to a dwelling (application 174653). Following a hearing on 23 January 2019, the Planning Inspector dismissed the appeal. The Inspector’s report is here: Appeal Decision – 3199884

The Lamb Inn was listed by Herefordshire Council as an Asset of Community Value in June 2018, following an application by the Parish Council. This was confirmed at an administrative review published in October 2018.

In accordance with the Asset of Community Value Regulations, the owner of The Lamb notified Herefordshire Council of his intention to dispose of the property on 17 October 2019. In response to this, the Parish Council has notified Herefordshire Council if its intention to bid to purchase The Lamb, and this has triggered a moratorium period until 10 April 2020, during which the owner may not dispose of the property other than to a local community interest group.

The Parish Council is leading the community’s campaign to re-open the pub, and at an Extraordinary Meeting held on 4 March 2020 the Council decided to make an offer to purchase it as a community pub. A longer-term vision is to develop it with further community facilities (such as a built-on community room to replace the ageing village hall). 

The Council commissioned a valuation report from Sidney Phillips Ltd, and this report gave an open-market valuation of £300,000 for the property, which was judged to be in excellent condition and needing little work to re-open, with the exception of a new kitchen:    LAMB-INN-STOKE-PRIOR-0120

The Council decided to make an offer of £315,000, which would be non-negotiable, given that it represented a premium on the open-market valuation, reflecting the long-term value to the community of acquiring the site.

The offer was made through Sidney Phillips Ltd, but unfortunately was rejected immediately by the owners, who indicated that they are looking for a sum which is far in excess of the valuation as a pub. The Parish Council received this information at its meeting  but was not open to negotiation on its offer. The offer remained open for three months, subject to the Council obtaining a full structural survey and obtaining borrowing approval and the offer of a loan to finance the purchase.

After a lapse of some years as of September 2022 there have been some recent developments regarding The Lamb which will be discussed at an extra ordinary Council meeting on 28 September 2022.  Here is the agenda for that meeting – Agenda 28th September 2022