Leicester Mercury

Historic village pub sealed off

INN DATES BACK 770 YEARS AND HAS LINKS TO FAMED HIGHWAYMAN

- By NICK DAWSON nicholas.dawson@reachplc.com

FRESH concerns have been raised for the future of a historic village pub after its windows were sealed and the entrance blocked off.

A notice appears to suggest that the move is to keep people off “private land”, but a councillor fears for its future.

Grade II-listed The Cock Inn, in Sibson, has been closed since November. It dates back 770 years and is reputedly a place where highwayman Dick Turpin would seek refuge from the authoritie­s.

Jonathan Collett, a councillor for Ambien ward on Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, lives a short walk from the pub.

He was shocked to discover a few days ago that large concrete slabs had been put across the entrance to the car park and the windows boarded up.

A notice on the wall reads: “On May 29, the landowners of The Cock Inn politely give notice the land and car park is private and will be temporaril­y closed with barriers.

“We ask that you remove your vehicle/vehicles from the land. Any left on the car park may be blocked in and charges may apply to remove the vehicle/vehicles.”

Jonathan told the Mercury he is concerned for the future of the pub.

He said: “It’s been a key part of Sibson for hundreds of years and is a beautiful and historic building.

“It is a valued asset for the community and must remain a pub. We owe it to future generation­s to protect and conserve this building and hub of our village and wider area.

“We are doing everything we can to keep this asset and have asked the council’s conservati­on officer to look into what has happened.”

The inn is owned by Star Pubs and Bars, part of the Heineken group.

A spokesman said: “We are looking to reopen as soon as possible, subject to the appointmen­t of a new operator and possible work that might be needed.

“This is dependent upon government guidelines around Covid-19, so we are unable to advise on timescales.”

The thatched pub had its history displayed on a wooden board inside.

On it was inscribed: “One of the oldest inns in England built in about 1250AD, it witnessed the preparatio­n and aftermath of the Battle of Bosworth Field, the death of Richard III and the start of the Tudor reign.

“The notorious highwayman Dick Turpin would return here after working the Watling Street, taking refuge in the bar chimney, stabling his horse in the cellar when pursuit was close at hand.”

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BLOCKED OFF: The driveway and windows of the Cock Inn, shown left in happier times

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