A 300-year-old pub which is the only one in a York village could be granted protected status under a bid lodged with the city council.
An application to designate The Lord Nelson, in Nether Poppleton, an Asset of Community Value (AVC) has been lodged with City of York Council.
The pub, which was visited by the then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak while on the campaign trail in 2023, is found on Main Street.
Applicant Nether Poppleton Parish Council stated it the pub was an important part of the village and added to its the beautiful appearance.
It comes ahead of the parish council’s application going before York councillors for a decision on Thursday, July 30.
The application for The Lord Nelson, in Main Street, is one of three bids for ACV status relating to pubs which is set to be ruled on.
ACV status is granted to buildings which are deemed to further social interests and wellbeing in a community, or has recently done or would in the future.
Buildings deemed to qualify can include cultural and sporting venues or those found to contribute to social wellbeing in a local community.
If ACV status is granted to a building and its owner then decides to sell it, they will be made to wait for six weeks to give eligible local groups the chance to come forward with bids.
A full six-month moratorium is then triggered if a potential bidder comes forward, otherwise the building can then be sold on the open market.
The Lord Nelson was previously designated an ACV in 2019 but its status has since expired.
Local campaigners previously tried to buy the pub for the community but were outbid by another offer in 2018.
It was later bought by Chris Thomas whose firm ACT York Ltd is registered as the owner of its freehold, according to a council report on the application.
Landlord Tom Brown turned the pub around, and it now has a 4.5/5 rating on TripAdvisor.
Nether Poppleton Parish Council’s application stated the pub boosted the local community’s social wellbeing, qualifying it for ACV status.
The application stated: “The Lord Nelson is of significant community value, being the only public house serving Nether Poppleton village.
“The pub is a flourishing, welcoming social facility.
“It is family-friendly and is a meeting point for local residents, community groups and sports teams.
“The pub is around 300 years old, as such it is an important part of the village and adds to the beautiful appearance of Main Street.”
