Campaign boost to save Henry Jenkins Inn at Kirkby Malzeard

A planning inspector has rejected an appeal against North Yorkshire Council’s decision to refuse planning permission to build a holiday let in part of the overgrown beer garden of the historic Henry Jenkins Inn at Kirkby Malzeard, near Ripon.

Villagers had branded the proposal as a deliberate attempt to sabotage their plans.

Justin Claybourn, who owns part of the pub, appealed against the council decision, leading to an appeal hearing being held in Harrogate last month.

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The hearing was attended by Mr Claybourn, the pub’s co-owner, David Fielder, North Yorkshire Council and four representatives of the Henry Jenkins Community Pub group.

Rejecting the appeal,  the Inspector, Ms Michelle Clowes, said: “The conversion of the outbuildings to a holiday let would effectively landlock the remaining Henry Jenkins Inn with land in the appellant’s control.

“…I am not satisfied that it has been demonstrated that the Inn could viably be operated a public house without the land comprising the appeal site.”

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She said that the restoration and reopening of the Henry Jenkins would provide additional choice for residents and visitors, adding “I am mindful that there remain a sizeable number of objections to the current proposal which also advocate support for the reopening of the Henry Jenkins as a community pub.

“There is therefore evidence before me that the Inn would be valued by local residents and no doubt visitors to the Nidderdale area.”

In her decision, the planning inspector cited a range of government planning policies backing the provision of community facilities.

Key to her decision was the owner’s failure to carry out an independent valuation or properly market the Henry Jenkins as a pub.

The Inspector, who carried out a site visit of the 250-year-old pub, also slammed the current state of the pub, which has been closed since 2011.

She said: “The stripping out of internal fittings in 2015 does not reflect the actions of a landlord or seller seeking a continuation of pub use, and is likely to have deterred prospective occupiers… there do not appear to be any attempts to repair the roof to make it watertight.”

Richard Sadler, chair of the 140-strong Henry Jenkins Community Pub group, told the Press the decision was a “huge boost” to the campaign, which was further boosted by the comments made by the inspector.

“It is a vote of confidence in our campaign. She acknowledges our submissions amount to convincing evidence that we still have support for our plans.

To date, villagers have raised £150,000 to buy the pub and they will continue fundraising to create a community-owned pub, bistro and coffee shop.

Richard further told the Press: “Our strategy is to use this as a platform to press ahead with negotiations with North Yorkshire Council in breaking the stalemate.

“This has gone on long enough. The Henry Jenkins has been a blight on the village. The owner has been trying to wear down the village. We are not going away. We are bolstered by the decision.  We will be going to North Yorkshire Council to end the stalemate. All our offers to buy the pub have been rejected.”

In 2024 HJCP was awarded a £330,000 grant under the Conservative Government’s Community Ownership Fund but the offer was later  withdrawn because of the group was unable to reach agreement with the owner.