Cheshire West: Campaign to save pub hots up

The 400-year-old Holly Bush in Little Leigh, near Northwich, closed its doors earlier this year, leaving many in the village shocked and saddened.

Within weeks, Little Leigh Parish Council submitted an application to Cheshire West and Chester Council to have the historic pub and its buildings listed as an asset of community value.

Save the Holly Bush campaigners Peter Jackson, Alison Owen, Simon Appleton and Alistair Nicholls

In an attempt to formalise things further, the group of campaigners have now set up a limited company.

Simon Appleton, one of those spearheading the campaign, said: "The Holly Bush Pub Limited is a private company limited by guarantee, rather than one whose aims are to generate profits for shareholders.

"The company is a legal entity and therefore now gives us the ability to deal with Cheshire West and Chester Council and any other parties in an official capacity, unlike the campaign group which is an informal grouping of individuals with no legal status.

"The campaign group will work alongside the company to harness the support and energies of the whole community, in the village and beyond, which is vital to saving the Holly Bush."

Simon Appleton outside the pub's Tap Room, said he can't wait to see fresh local beer make a return

With the sale of various parts of the site, including a 14 bedroom hotel, not yet complete, Simon believes there is an opportunity to secure the future of the pub.

"A moratorium which protects the pub building from re-development until February 2022 has now been confirmed," he added.

"This is in addition to the protection of listed building status which prevents physical changes to the historic structure.

"However we believe the whole site needs protecting as the viability of the pub requires the car park, bedrooms, garden and outbuildings as well as the main building and will work with the Council to achieve this.

"The Campaign Group continues in its objective to re-open and develop the Holly Bush as a vibrant and successful pub at the heart of our community.

"The pub company now gives us the ability to raise money, enter discussions with interested parties or make legal challenges should these be required to achieve our objective."