Campaigners have been left devastated after their bid to preserve a historical pub has been left in tatters.

Save the Green Dragon Pub generated more than 4,000 signatures online after its future was put into doubt when it closed in January and was purchased by Green Lanes Investment.

The pub, in Green Lanes, has been in Winchmore Hill for more than 300 years.

The petition was aimed to preserve the pub’s future but aiming to gain an asset of community value and had been supported by full council last month.

However, Enfield Borough Council has rejected its application claiming “it did not meet the strict criteria”.

Gutted by the verdict, there are now fears that Aldi supermarket has purchased pub and could open next year.

Mike McClean, organiser of the campaign, said: “We are deeply shocked by this decision and are going to have to think carefully about how to proceed.

“This is a major blow to us but the campaign is not dead yet. With your support we hope to vehemently oppose any plans for mixed residential/retail use and for the Green Dragon to remain a public house in the heart of the large geographical area it has served for 300 years.

“Although there is no formal right of appeal on for us as the nominating body, Councillors are investigating a process called Councillor Call for Action which requires consideration from elected members of the Council as opposed to the process which has taken place, which is officer based.”

Despite succeeding on three of the four criterions to gain the community asset, the campaign failed to show that after Green Lanes Investments turned the pub into a discount shop, that “it was not realistic to say that it could be returned to use as a pub over the next five years.”

Mr McClean said he would consider all his option but failed to accept that the pub could not be turned back into its original state within a few days.

On fears of it becoming an Aldi, Mr McClean said: “This could impact on the community site, all the little businesses could be wiped out. That parade of shops could be killed off.”

Daivd Burrowes, Conservative candidate for Enfield Southgate, said: “This is a terrible blow to the community and Enfield Council has failed to grasp the meaning of community spirit because this will be lost.”

An Enfield Council spokeswoman said: Nominations to have the former Middlesex University Campus in Trent Park and the Green Dragon pub in Winchmore Hill listed as assets of community value have been refused by the council because the submissions did not meet the strict criteria set out in government legislation.  

“Notwithstanding this decision both the mansion and grounds within Trent Park are already protected by a wide range of measures designed to protect the historic and aesthetic value of the property.”