A campaign to save a centuries-old Leicestershire pub with links to notorious highwayman Dick Turpin has attracted more than 1,000 signatures.
Supporters are pressing the owners of the Cock Inn in Sibson, close to Market Bosworth, to restore and reopen the venue, which holds Grade II-listed status.
The establishment, considered one of England’s oldest surviving inns with a history spanning over 750 years, has remained shuttered since 2019.
Campaigners maintain the building predates the Battle of Bosworth and was reportedly used by Turpin as a hideout during his criminal exploits.
The petition also calls on Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, the local planning authority, to prevent the protected structure from falling into further disrepair.
Councillor Joshua Melen described the venue as “nationally significant” and warned it had “visibly deteriorated” during its years of closure.
“The Cock Inn is not just another village pub. It is a building of national historic importance,” he said.
He emphasised that the owners bear responsibility for protecting the heritage site, stating: “It is vital that urgent restoration works are now undertaken before further damage occurs”.
More than 1,000 people have signed the petition to save The Cock Inn
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Star Pubs
The councillor also revealed a deeply personal connection to the establishment, explaining: “My grandparents were courting here in the 60s, my parents came here when they were dating in the 80s and I had my first ever pint here too.
“It’s got an important family tie for me and ultimately I hope that helps people see why it’s such an important local feature”.
Local resident Ross Jones, 73, expressed dismay at the building’s current state.
“Looking at it now, it’s just shocking, the owners have an obligation to maintain it. To leave such an iconic building looking like this is wrong”, he told the BBC.
Fellow Sibson resident Nicky Sheldon lamented that the pub once served as the village’s social heart, describing its condition as “a real sorrowful state”.
She told the BBC: “One of the main reasons we moved here was because of this quintessential English pub which sadly it isn’t anymore – it’s a real shame”.
The owners indicated they had restarted their search for someone to run the pub and reported strong interest from potential candidates.
They expressed optimism about announcing a new operator shortly, along with a timeline for renovation work that would restore the building’s original features.
Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council confirmed it had granted listed building consent for repairs and acknowledged the “local feeling” surrounding the issue.
The authority said its conservation officer has arranged a meeting this month with the owner’s project manager to discuss urgent concerns about the building’s worsening condition.
Dr Luke Evans, MP for Hinckley and Bosworth, noted the petition demonstrates the depth of community feeling on the matter.
“I have not only met with everyone involved, but visited the Cock Inn to try to help steer progress, and while I understand there have been encouraging words, I hope we can see definitive action,” he said.
Brewery Star Pubs and Bars attributed the failure to complete refurbishment and reopening in 2025 to “circumstances beyond our control”.
A spokesman for the company said: “Despite this, we were able to undertake extensive structural works prior to commencement of the refurbishment itself”.
