Public Anger Grows as Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council Fails to Act on Derelict Grade II-Listed Pub Despite Widespread Media Coverage
More than 2,500 people have now signed a petition calling for the urgent restoration of The Cock Inn in Sibson - an historic pub believed to date back to circa 1250 and to be the second oldest pub in England - yet both the owners, Heineken’s Star Pubs & Bars, and Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council continue to take no meaningful action.
The petition, hosted on Change.org, will be formally presented to Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council at its full council meeting on Tuesday 14th April 2026 at 6.30pm.
Petition: Save Our Pub! The Cock Inn, Sibson, Leicestershire (“circa 1250”) https://www.change.org/p/save-our-pub-the-cock-inn-sibson-leicestershire-circa1250
Despite extensive local and national media coverage highlighting the building’s six-year vacancy and visible deterioration, the Council has still not used its statutory powers to intervene, prompting a formal complaint from the Save Our Pub! campaign group.
In a strongly worded letter to the Council’s Planning Enforcement Team, campaign chairman Mr Joshua Melen has accused the authority of “prolonged and unacceptable failure” to protect the heritage asset. The letter states:
“The building has deteriorated significantly and continues to suffer visible and worsening damage. Despite years of neglect, there has been no intervention by the Council to compel the owner, Star Pubs & Bars, to address the condition of the property.”
“The continued failure to serve a Section 215 Notice under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, despite the obvious and ongoing harm to the amenity of the area, suggests a serious lapse in the exercise of the Council’s statutory powers.”
The complaint demands a full explanation for the lack of enforcement, details of any engagement with the owner, and an immediate time-bound commitment to action.
Sheepy Parish Council, which represents the area in which the Cock Inn is located, also resolved at a recent public meeting to write a formal letter of complaint to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council.
Four years ago, specialist consulting engineers with extensive experience in historic structures assessed the pub. Following multiple site visits, they concluded that the main timber supporting frame on the exterior of the building requires significant repair and replacement works to stabilise the structure and prevent further deterioration.
Mr Melen said:
“The Cock Inn is not just another village pub. It is a building of national historic importance and a treasured part of our local community. For centuries it has been a gathering place for residents and visitors alike.”
“Residents have heard many promises over the past six years about restoration and reopening, but those promises have yet to translate into visible progress. Meanwhile the building continues to deteriorate. It is vital that urgent restoration works are now undertaken before further damage occurs.”
The Save Our Pub! campaign group is calling on both Star Pubs & Bars (Heineken) and the Borough Council to act decisively to save this irreplaceable historic building before it is too.