Villagers, Blackheath (Volunteer)

The 'pub on the hill' was in fine walking country, a 30 minute stroll from Chilworth Station. The front entrance leds into a small public bar area with flagstone floor and open fire, where dogs were welcome. This led in turn through to a spacious dining area, in two parts with an L-shaped bar.

Sadly the pub closed in April 2011, however a village enterprise known as the Blackheath Village Pub Company was established with the express purpose of protecting and retaining the village pub. In 2013 they secured Asset of Community Value (ACV) status for the pub, the first in the area. In October 2016 the pub was sold to a residential developer and the ACV revoked, though a reapplication was immediately made on the grounds that the pub remained viable and had strong local support. This was approved in March 2017, so the pub was listed as an ACV again. In September 2017 The Blackheath Village Pub Company secured planning permission to develop the site for both a pub and residential use and attempted to purchase the pub.

However in September 2018 the site was purchased by Lux Homes Ltd, who whilst clearly interested in developing the site for residential use were nevertheless bound by the planning conditions requiring retention of a pub. A planning application to remove this condition was refused in 2020 but a further application in 2024 was approved by the local council. However a judicial review quashed this decision and in June 2025 the Council advised that they are reconsidering the application. In January 2026 the Council again approved the application. A second appeal was lodged, however the Council responded robustly threatening significant financial impacts and despite a fund raising campaign, it was concluded that the community simply didn't have financial backing to support taking the High Court challenge any further. Therefore, in March 2026, with a heavy heart they gave up the fight to save the Villagers pub.