A historic pub, which dates back to the early eighteenth century, has been listed as an Asset of Community Value after its landlords announced the venue was to close.

In December, the current tenants of the Cross Gaits in Beverley Road, Blacko, Adam Marshall and Peter Godwin said in a statement that their lease was coming to an end and the future of the pub looked uncertain.

Mr Marshall and Mr Godwin said they were “very sad” to announce the pub’s closure and said the brewery had taken the decision to sell the premises.

In a statement they said: “We have not posted previously as we were still waiting to see what was happening with the brewery. We are very sad to announce the closure.

“As with many rumours some are correct and some are not.

“The brewery has taken the decision to sell the premises which brings our tenancy to an end.

“We are not fully aware of what the new owner has planned with the site.

“We would like to thank both customers and the Cross Gaits team for their support over the past three years, especially through the challenging times of lockdown.”

However, an application to list the pub as an Asset of Community Value was lodged with Pendle Council on January 5 by the parish council, stating that the Cross Gaits provided a local meeting point for the community, with social events and live entertainment which brought the people in the area together.

The application read: “The pub provides work, training and development for local employees, giving them valuable work experience, increasing individual wellbeing and supporting young peoples' professional development.

“The pub enables local people to meet and socialise in a welcoming environment which, individually, they find rewarding and enjoyable.

"Such social interaction is also in the interests of the locality as a whole as it encourages community cohesion and a collective sense of well-being.

“During Covid, the pub provided home cooked meals, fruit and veg boxes and pantry essentials, for delivery or collection, assisting the local community at a difficult time for many people.

“New research from Oxford University shows that people who have a 'local' pub are happier, are more satisfied with their life and have a wider network of friends.”

The pub was granted community value status on January 30, meaning the community now has six months to decide what action to take going forward, which could include purchasing the pub from the brewery.

Mr Marshall and Mr Godwin are also in charge of The Bay Horse in Roughlee, which will remain open.

They said: “We hope that we continue to receive that support at our sister site, The Bay Horse in Roughlee, where you will continue to see our fantastic team working on making your visit as pleasurable as it can be.”