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. These have now lapsed but will be reinstated after a set period.
• Been in regular contact with the owners of The Black Horse so we’re in the best position to make a viable offer. We haven't been allowed access to survey the pub so we can get a valuation but we have submitted a conditional offer which has been rejected.
• 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. These have now gone past the 6 month period.

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 2024 and since then use our Parish Notes (magazine) to keep the community updated each month. We also have a regular email, WhatsApp group and Facebook page. Each month we hold a Pop-Up pub night to come together as a community and provide a short update on progress if there's news. If you would like to be added to these please use the Newsletter Signup form in the footer section below, or email [email protected].

Have the owners put in a planning application to develop The Black Horse? Yes there is a current planning application to develop the pub into four flats with a small public bar. We are currently objecting to the application. We have also had sight to the original pre-planning application via a freedom if information request. That application was for the development of the pub plus additional houses on the land.

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.