Ye Olde Swiss Cottage has been part of Camden’s heritage for nearly 200 years. 

Since its closure on 1 February 2025, its future has become increasingly uncertain.

With the hard work of The Belsize Society and CAMRA, Camden Council granted the pub Asset of Community Value (ACV) status in April 2025, formally recognising its historic and social importance.

This triggered a six-month moratorium (ending 8 February 2026), giving the community time to explore a possible bid.

To understand the situation fully, the community commissioned an independent valuation of the property. The outcome made one thing clear:

The scale of investment required to purchase and restore the pub is far beyond what a community group could realistically raise within six months.
This does not mean the pub cannot be saved — but it means a future commercial pub operator will likely be essential.

The Problem Now
The owner has appealed the ACV listing.
The appeal hearing is scheduled for March 2026 — after the moratorium ends.

This timing creates a serious risk:

If the ACV is removed, it opens the door to redevelopment.

What We Are Asking : 

We call on Camden Council to:

Defend and uphold the ACV status of Ye Olde Swiss Cottage at the March 2026 appeal.
Ensure the site remains protected as a public house, not a redevelopment plot.

We also want decision-makers to note:

Demand for a pub here is extremely strong — there is no other pub like this in the area.
If ACV protection is retained and the site later comes to market at a realistic level, responsible pub operators will be interested.

This petition shows Camden Council and wider authorities that the public strongly supports protecting Ye Olde Swiss Cottage — now and in the long term.

Sign and share to help secure the future of this historic Camden landmark.