Key Points
- Massive Community Support: Over 2,000 personal survey responses have been collected to support the re-listing of The Alliance pub as an Asset of Community Value (ACV).
- Sudden Closure: The pub closed unexpectedly in mid-June after showing the England-Croatia match, leaving local residents and regulars uninformed.
- Squatter Activity: Squatters have occupied the commercial property, changing the locks and posting a legal notice invoking Section 144 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.
- Council Submission: Campaigners, led by former Liberal Democrat councillor Keith Moffitt, have submitted their draft application to Camden Council and anticipate a decision within six to eight weeks.
- Tenancy Background: The pub was previously operated by Loci Pubs—the group behind Hampstead’s Duke of Hamilton—though it remains unconfirmed whether their lease expired or was terminated early.
West Hampstead (North London News) July 21, 2026 —Campaigners in North London have formally submitted a community application to Camden Council in a bid to rescue The Alliance, a historic West Hampstead pub on Mill Lane, after its unexpected closure and subsequent takeover by squatters. Backed by a survey containing more than 2,000 personal testimonies, local residents and heritage groups are requesting that the local authority re-list the premises as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). If approved, the ACV status will accord the local community the right of first refusal to raise funds and purchase the freehold should the property be offered on the open market.
How Did The Alliance Close and How Have Squatters Taken Over the Property?
As reported by reporter Express Staff of the Ham & High, the sudden shutdown of the local establishment took regulars and local community groups by surprise.
The pub had been operated by Loci Pubs—a venue management team founded by North London brothers Ben Robson and Ed Robson, who also run The Duke of Hamilton in Hampstead.
Loci Pubs took over during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, reviving the hostelry as a gastropub featuring Sunday roasts and popular weekly quiz nights following an earlier closure during which its upstairs accommodation was converted into flats.
However, management shuttered the establishment in mid-June with minimal prior notice. According to campaign organizers, patrons were only aware that the pub would remain open to broadcast the England versus Croatia football match before its doors were locked permanently.
While local belief suggests the building was sold in December with tenants in situ, it remains unconfirmed by Loci Pubs whether the operators willingly ended their lease or if the agreement naturally expired.
Following the shuttering, squatters moved onto the premises, changing the side locks and displaying notices in the windows.
As documented by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) North London branch, a sign posted on the door by “The Occupiers” explicitly references legal protections:
“Section 144 LAS doesn’t apply. We are legally squatting this commercial property. Any force of entry and we will call the police. Thanks, The Occupiers.”
This legal notice relies on Section 144 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO) Act 2012, which criminalises residential squatting in England and Wales but does not automatically extend the same criminal offence status to commercial properties.
What Are Community Leaders and Campaigners Doing to Protect the Venue?
As highlighted by reporter Express Staff of the Ham & High, the Save The Alliance campaign—co-led by the West Hampstead Neighbourhood Development Forum and supported by North London CAMRA—launched an extensive public questionnaire to demonstrate the pub’s intrinsic value to the neighbourhood. Keith Moffitt, a former West Hampstead councillor, co-chair of the Fortune Green and West Hampstead Neighbourhood Development Forum, and a leading voice in the campaign, emphasized the significant public reaction:
As reported by reporter Express Staff of the Ham & High, Keith Moffitt stated that
“I’ve been involved with the local Lib Dems for years and we always used it as a meeting spot and place to socialise. There is something special about The Alliance – we are fortunate to have many different pubs, but it’s the only real community pub in West Hampstead.”
Commenting further on the scale of local support, Keith Moffitt added that
“Over 2,000 people have answered the survey, it’s quite remarkable there’s been an outpouring of community support.”
Regarding the unexpected nature of the shutdown and the subsequent illegal occupation, Keith Moffitt noted that
“The closure came out of the blue – even the regulars didn’t know. They announced they would keep it open for the England-Croatia match then that was it. Now the squatters have suddenly appeared… which is a worry if they cause any damage because it’s more difficult to evict people from a commercial premises.”
Recalling the period when Loci Pubs managed the venue, Keith Moffitt remarked that
“It felt very optimistic – they were local north Londoners, they brought the quiz night back and there were Sunday roasts.”
North London CAMRA publicly raised concerns on social media regarding the takeover, noting that the presence of squatters playing music behind changed locks was creating an “unsettling” situation for nearby residents on Mill Lane.
With the draft application now submitted to Camden Council planners, campaigners expect the decision process to take between six and eight weeks.
Background of The Alliance Pub Development
The Alliance, located on Mill Lane in West Hampstead, dates back to 1882 and possesses a long history as a neighbourhood fixture. Over the past decade, the establishment has repeatedly faced redevelopment pressures and periods of closure.
To protect the site from permanent change of use or demolition, local residents previously secured Asset of Community Value status on two separate occasions.
However, the previous ACV status expired just days after the pub shut its doors in mid-June. Under English planning law, an ACV designation offers a vital protection framework for communities fighting to preserve local hubs:
if a listed owner intends to sell the property, a six-month moratorium is triggered, allowing local community groups time to organize, raise funds, and submit a competitive purchase bid.
The current campaign seeks to reinstate this legal protection to ensure the structure remains a public house rather than being redeveloped exclusively into private residential or commercial units.
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Prediction: How This Development Will Affect Local Stakeholders and Residents
The outcome of the ACV submission to Camden Council will directly affect several distinct groups within the West Hampstead community:
- Local Residents and Regular Patrons: Should the council grant ACV status, residents will secure a statutory pause against immediate commercial redevelopment. If successful in eventually purchasing or finding an operator for the site, the community regains its key social venue. Conversely, if the ACV bid fails or if long-term funding falls short, residents risk permanently losing what many consider the last true “community pub” in the immediate vicinity.
- Property Owners and Commercial Investors: For the building’s freeholders, an ACV designation introduces statutory delays and restrictions regarding potential sales or planning changes, limiting immediate redevelopment options. Furthermore, the ongoing occupation by squatters presents legal hurdles, as commercial evictions require civil court orders, potentially incurring legal fees and delaying any intended building works or re-letting.
- Nearby Neighbours on Mill Lane: In the immediate short term, neighbours face uncertainty surrounding noise and potential property damage during the squatter occupation. In the longer term, maintaining an active, well-regulated community pub contributes to the commercial vitality and social cohesion of the neighbourhood.
