The Heathcote Arms on Grove Green Road, Leytonstone is closed once more, two years after it reopened following its initial closure in September 2014. The pub was bought by property developers Equity Estates whose plans to part-demolish and build Flats was thwarted by the pub’s status as an Asset of Community Value and Waltham Forest Council’s pub protection plan. I’ve been told by people in the industry that a number of pub operators offered to buy the Heathcote from Equity Estates but were quoted unrealistically inflated prices.
The Heathcote has the potential to be a great pub once more, Waltham Forest can ill afford to lose any more pubs. Let’s hope the Council continue their policy of opposing pub conversions and this building returns to the community as soon as possible.
The whole re-opening was a cynical attempt to demonstrate the pub’s non-viability, and exhaust protest. Any attempt to convert this historic pub needs to be challenged.
I quite agree Tom. I’ve already written to the Councillors and our MP John Cryer who has been very supportive of the pub. Any attempt to develop the Heathcote will be met with solid resistance as last time