Town’s oldest pub granted legal protection
The Rose & Crown has been closed since November 2025
A Wiltshire town’s oldest pub – which has been serving beer since medieval times – has been given legal protection that could save it from being converted into housing.
The Campaign for Real Ale voiced concern when The Rose and Crown pub in Chippenham Market Place failed to reopen following a sudden closure in November, which the owner initially blamed on “electrical issues”.
CAMRA approached Chippenham Town Council to apply to get the pub listed as an Asset of Community Value – which it did in March.
Now, Wiltshire Council has granted the pub ACV status.
While the owner, Southern Property Holdings Ltd – whose registered address is above the pub, cannot be forced to reopen the pub, the listing means the community will be given since months to put together a bid if the owner decides to sell the pub, or convert it into housing.
The Grade II* listed public house, known locally as The Rosie, is medieval in origin and one of the oldest buildings in the town and the oldest surviving public house in Chippenham.
In its application for listing, the town council said: “The public house is one of the jewels in the crown of Chippenham Market Place, along with the Yelde Hall, Bear Hotel, Angel Hotel, War Memorial, and St. Andrews Church.
“Around 20 years ago, the Rose & Crown was one of the town’s most popular pubs, bringing vibrancy to the Upper Market Place and holding many fond memories for the local community.
“It has always had strong links with the Chippenham Folk Festival scene, with Morris dancers performing in front of it.
“Having operated as a public house for hundreds of years, there is a rich social history linked to this use.
“Declining in popularity since the pandemic, The Rose & Crown closed its doors to the general public in November 2025 and there are no intentions to re-open the building in the immediate future.
“In the recent past, The Rose & Crown has furthered the social well-being of the local community by being a meeting place and having an upstairs function room, hosting regular karaoke nights and quizzes, serving hot food and real ale, having a pool table and darts, two bar areas, sports TV, and games/newspapers.
“It is one of the few dog-friendly pubs in the town centre, and unique in having a beer garden located at the front of the building.
The council said the pub should be viable under the right ownership, especially as the population of the town grows.
“This is a unique asset for the local community because of its important historic architecture and rich social history, which could continue to be appreciated,” said the council.
“The wider community of Chippenham would be much poorer if this historic public house was lost.”