A temporary block has been placed on the sale of a Wye Valley pub to allow the local community time to put in a bid.

The Brockweir Country Inn closed in 2019 and was bought by the current owners who have undertaken a significant amount of structural work.

The pub has been placed on the market with Hereford-based estate agent Sidney Phillips.

A six-week moratorium has been placed on the sale as the pub is  “an asset of community value (ACV)”.

The pub was nominated as an ACV by Hewelsfield and Brockweir Parish Council and listed by the Forest of Dean District Council in May 2021.

The owners notified the council – as required by the Localism Act 2011 – last Wednesday (February 28) of their intention to sell the property.

The council has issued a notice saying there is a six-week moratorium on the sale which will run until  Tuesday, April 9.

If a community group indicates it wants to make a bid during those six weeks, a full six-month pause on the sale will take effect.

The notice states: “During this period, requests to be considered as a potential bidder in relation to the property can be submitted to the  Forest of Dean District Council.

“If Hewelsfield and Brockweir Parish Council, or any other community interest group make a request during the interim moratorium period, there will be a full moratorium lasting six months.

“This period is intended to allow time to develop proposals and raise capital to purchase the building.

“Alternatively, if no request is received, the land can be disposed of to any person and the full moratorium will not apply.”

The parish council was due to discuss the move at its meeting last night (Tuesday) and had invited local people to attend and ask questions

The agent describes the building as a “development project”.

The details on the Sidney Phillips website state: “The Brockweir Inn is an attractive period ‘cottage’ style premises that dates back to the 14th Century, and has recently been assess(ed) for listing as either Grade II or Grade II* by the Secretary of State under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

“The property, which is a development project, stands in a prime centre position in the village which is on the Eastern bank of the River Wye. 

“Brockweir is approximately five miles from Chepstow and nine miles from Monmouth.

“The inn stands on Offa’s Dyke Path and Wye Valley Walk which attracts a large number of walkers throughout the major part of the year.

“The Brockweir was purchased in April 2019 by the vendor as a closed unit and there has already been a significant amount of structural work stripping the pub back to expose its original features.

“The premises which stand detached are built in the main of local stone under a pantiled roof with new hand-made wooden framed double glazed leaded light windows.

“It has a wealth of period character features and warrants further significant sympathetic investment to recreate a popular local facility which is equally attractive as a destination inn.”

No guide price for the property is given but the agents are inviting “fully funded purchases to make an offer for the Freehold”.

The Brockweir is some seven miles from The Rising Sun at Woodcroft which was also designated as an Asset of Community Value and was successfully re-opened after being bought by local people.

For more details about the sale of the Brockweir County Inn visit www.sidneyphillips.co.uk