The owners of a beloved community pub have lost their bid to strip the premises of special protection against redevelopment.

Campaigners fighting to save The Dartmouth Arms in Dartmouth Park were celebrating on Monday after it was ruled that the pub will remain an Asset of Community Value (ACV).

The status gives it extra protection against being turned into luxury housing, and gives the community the right to make an offer to buy the pub if it were to be put on the market.

Owners Faucet Inns appealed against Camden Council’s decision last year to designate the pub as an ACV.

But on Monday, Camden’s borough solicitor Andrew Maughan ruled to dismiss the appeal.

The owners now claim that the listing is unnecessary as the pub will re-open once works to turn the upper floor into housing has completed. It is no longer on the market after being put up for sale last year for £1.8million.

Patrick Lefevre, chairman of the Dartmouth Park Conservation Area Advisory Committee, said: “The decision is brilliant. The Dartmouth Arms is the hub of a mixed social area.”

Faucet Inns did not respond to a request for comment before the Ham&High went to press.