After a long battle by the local community, one of Britain’s most significant pubs, the Baring Hall Hotel in Grove Park, South-East London, now has a secure future following its acquisition by a new owner.

The Baring Hall Hotel, completed in 1882, was one of the very first improved public houses to be built in England. These were designed to be social centres, providing a pleasant background for moderate drinking and good food. The original Baring Hall Hotel featured a coffee room, tap room, bar, parlour, tea garden, kitchen and stables.

This was in contrast to the popular gaudy Victorian gin palaces of the time with their plate-glass windows, brilliant lighting and huge bars, all designed to entice customers and sell as much drink as possible.

Baring Hall closed in 2009 following a fire and is currently on Historic Britain’s Heritage at Risk register after a roller-coaster ride of demolition plans, High Court and planning battles plus years of neglect.

In 2011, following an application to demolish, Stephen Kenny (pictured left) and Lewisham councillor Liam Curran (right) set up the Baring Trust to protect the pub and other local heritage buildings and environment, securing protection of the pub by successfully applying for listings as a Grade II building and Asset of Community Value (ACV).

From the beginning, they worked closely with many individuals and bodies starting with Grove Park councillor Suzannah Clarke plus Conor Rutledge and the Grove Park Community Group to secure a successful High Court appeal to prevent demolition of the pub in 2011.

In a statement the two Baring Trust directors said: "The pub has survived two world wars, the Wall Street Crash of 1929, two pandemics, two fires and 14 years of various owners trying to knock it down or develop for houses. And now, after years of campaigning, it has an owner that wants to run a pub. This is truly a glorious day.

"We are absolutely delighted that a successful pub operator Garry Mallen has seen the potential of the pub and decided to take it on. To be honest, after all this time we wondered whether this day would ever come, but now it has finally arrived, it is a wonderful feeling, and we want to pay tribute to all those in the community who kept the faith for the past 14 years and made it happen as well as the support from many people and national organizations."

Mallen said: “It’s clear that the Baring Hall Hotel has always had enormous potential as a pub. It is going to be quite a challenge getting the building up and running and we will have to do it in phases as it’s a large project. But I am looking forward to the day that we can welcome our first customers through the doors.”