A city law firm has taken up the cause of a small bar fighting Watford Borough Council's plans to oust it from a community centre.

Solicitors from the London-based Nabarro firm are looking at the legality of the council’s ultimatum to the Meriden Bar Association to leave the community centre in Garsmouth Way by January.

The bar association is currently fighting the decision to end its lease on the centre early and hand it over to the Watford FC Community Sports & Education Trust.

Over the last couple of years the borough council has been off-loading its community centres to outside organisations to cut costs.

Kevin Gibbons, the managing director of the bar association, said he intended to fight the council all the way.

“We have been left with no choice,” he said.

“There was a petition which 300 people signed when they learnt of the council’s plans.

“The mayor basically said we don’t give a stuff we are doing it anyway.”

The Meriden Bar Association took over the bar in the community centre in 2004 after agreeing a five-year lease with the council.

In 2009 the association as granted another five-year lease, but earlier this year the council told the bar it wanted it out of the centre and offered it a lump sum to leave.

The bar refused and was given six months’ notice leaving it until January next year to vacate the centre.

Yet it is not just the bar’s punters who are backing its fight to stay put, a nearby church has also lent its support.

The Miracle Christian Centre, which worships at North Watford Methodist Church and has an office in the Meriden Community Centre, has written to the council in the bar’s favour.

In its letter it said: “The bar is a vital part of the community and welcome to anyone who wishes to use the service it provides.”

However the council remained firm over its plans hand the centre over to the Watford FC Community Sports & Education Trust.

Dorothy Thornhill, the Liberal Democrat elected mayor of Watford, said: “We are delighted that Watford FC Community & Education Trust has put forward plans to improve the community centre and secure its long term future.

“We are following the correct legal process, so that the community centre can be improved to cater for a wider range of activities for local people.”