Patrons of a pub at the heart of a community have joined together against plans to turn their drinking hole into a restaurant.

The Cock and Dragon Pub, in Chalk Lane, Cockfosters, is due to close in January next year and be turned into a Miller and Carter Steak house.

Since the plans were announced more than 3,600 people have liked a Facebook page called ‘Save The Cock and Dragon’ in opposition to the proposals.

Zoe Packman 39 who started the group said: “I love this pub and so do most of the community round here and we really don’t want to see it go.

“It is the only pub in the area and it’s a place where a lot of people come to meet friends. It’s been part of the area for hundreds of years and it’s an important place.

“It would be devastating if it was change because there is nowhere else to go."

Matthew Linksey, 45, who has been drinking at the pub since he was 18-years-old, said: “This pub was part of my growing up which is the same for a lot of people.

“There is a village community around Cockfosters and this pup is at the heart of that and it is one of the only things that keeps it together.”

Fellow patron Christopher Evans, 70, who has been a regular at the pub for 45 years said: “It will be a loss to the area. People love coming to visit and it is still very popular with families.

“We don’t want to lose a pub for it to be replaced with a generic meat restaurant.”

The pub is owned and managed by the Orchid Group of pubs, which was recently taken over by Mitchells and Butlers, owner of the Miller and Carter brand.

Steve De Polo from the Orchid Group met with the campaigners at the pub yesterday to discuss the plans.

Speaking to the Enfield Independent he said: “We have been really pleasantly surprised by the response and people showing they really care about their local pub.

“We are here to talk to people about the proposals and understand people’s concerns.

“The proposals are along way into planning stage now but we will listen and consider people’s views about the pub.”