Frequently Asked Questions

What’s The Black Horse? The Black Horse pub was the only pub in the village of Stansted, Sevenoaks. Unfortunately, the pub closed its doors to the public on 18th October 2024 and since then the Parish Council has set up a project group to try and save it by buying the pub so it can live on as a key part of our village community.

Who is in the project group who are trying to save the pub? We’re made up of 10 members all from within our Parish. Led by our Chair - Tom Sheldon –the committee members are; James Burlace, Lee Durrant, Anna Epps, David Epps, Daisy Estrada, Simon Gardiner, Gary Ibbott, Jonathan Rowe and Yvonne Tisson.

What is the Stansted and Fairseat Community Group (SFCG)? We have applied to create a community benefit society, called Stansted and Fairseat Community Group (SFCG). If we can buy the pub then this is the entity that will make the purchase.

What’s been done already? The project group meet regularly and since forming we’ve:

• Submitted two Asset of Community Value (ACV) applications for both the pub and the land of the Black Horse which have been accepted. These create a period of 6 months for the community to purchase the pub subject to agreeing terms with the owner.
• Been in regular contact with the owners of The Black Horse so we’re in the best position to make a viable offer. We’re waiting to be allowed access to survey the pub so we can get a valuation.
• Joined Plunkett UK - a charity that supports groups set up community-owned businesses.
• Identified and researched different funding opportunities and grants and pulled together a business plan so if we are able to buy and run the pub, we’ll have a plan to do so.
• Applied to create a community benefit society, called Stansted and Fairseat Community Group (SFCG). If we can buy the pub then this is the entity that will make the purchase.

What’s an Asset of Community Value (ACV)? We’ve now registered two ACVs one for the pub and one for the land surrounding The Black Horse which have been accepted. They are designed to give a village some protection and if the asset is put up for sale, then there’s a time frame of 6 months where the community is given advanced time to try and buy the asset. However, there is no requirement for the owners to sell at a fair price nor do simple things like give access for surveys etc… and if the owner doesn’t want to sell to the village, then they don’t have to.

What’s Plunkett UK? Plunkett UK is a charity set up to support groups set up community-owned businesses. There’s a wealth of information available and reduced rates for services we may need like surveyors etc.

How are you keeping the parishioners informed? We held an initial village meeting in October and since then use our Parish Notes (magazine) to keep the community updated each month. We also have a regular email and WhatsApp group. If you would like to be added to these please use the Newsletter Signup form in the footer section below, or email info@savetheblackhorse.co.uk.

What if the owners put in planning permission to develop The Black Horse? The owner has shared their intent to submit a planning application for development, so we are regularly checking planning applications received by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council. We’re ready to respond when needed and would heavily oppose any such application.

Have you noticed the pub is currently being used as a personal fitness studio? Yes, a big thank you to the large number of people who have flagged this to us. We continue to raise this with TMBC and encourage you to do the same. You can do this by going to https://enforcements.agileapplications.co.uk/tmbc. Then click ‘submit enforcement enquiry’, the first page is your details, second page is the details of the pub (TN15 7PR is the postcode and you have to put a number before the house name – just put ‘0’) and last page is asking for a description. It takes two minutes.

Has the owner agreed to sell? The project group is in regular communication with the owner regarding purchase of the pub. However, despite our best efforts, the owner has so far declined to sell at or close to the market value as a pub nor allow us entry to the pub to survey it to support our valuation and loan process.