Pubs in Cheshire: Holly Bush up for auction for third time

The Holly Bush, in Little Leigh, closed its door in early 2021, leaving regulars at the 400-year-old thatched pub shocked and saddened.

The grade II-listed hostelry and its third-of-an-acre grounds are set to be sold by online auction, beginning on Tuesday, June 20, with a guide price of just £100,000 – the third time the pub has been auctioned since it closed, with both previous sales falling through.

One local resident, Alistair Nicholls, who’s been campaigning to save the pub, has raised concerns about how the site is being marketed, suggesting its listing in property website Rightmove's residential category gives the wrong impression of the the site’s usage potential.

Alistair Nicholls (left) with fellow campainers (left to right) Alison Owen, Simon Appleton and Peter Jackson (Image: Alistair Nicholls)It’s current planning permission is for business use only, and as the pub is both grade II-listed and located in the Bartington conservation area, that would be difficult to change, says Alistair.

He believes it’s very unlikely a buyer would be granted planning permission for a residential development on the site, at least for several decades.  

He said: "This selling at auction of the whole site, advertised under the residential category on Rightmove, has been a disaster both for the website, and for many of the people purchasing.

"I believe advertising it in this way is potentially misleading, and that it should be advertised in Rightmove’s commercial category, as ‘a potential development opportunity’.

"I’ve written to Rightmove about this, as I don't agree with their technical guidelines, and have told them so.

"The whole sad saga would make an excellent ‘how to lose loads of money buying property at auction’ television programme."

Alistair is also concerned about the condition of the building, which has been empty more than two years (Image: Auction Agents)

Alistair is also worried for the state of historic pub itself, believing the longer attempts to auction it as a residential opportunity go on, the more dilapidated it's becoming.  

He added: "I had a viewing the other day, and it was extremely disappointing.

"Two years ago, when the Holly Bush was first up for auction, I viewed it and the internal condition was such that you would think you could almost just move in.

"Now it is in a terrible state internally.

"I don’t understand how or why people would treat a wonderful old property like that."

A spokesman for Rightmove said: "As this property is commercial but also has a residence attached, with bedrooms, bathrooms kitchen, etc, the seller is free to advertise on Rightmove as either.

"Rightmove is not a regulator, and they can advertise this if they follow our technical guidelines, which state: If the commercial property could also be used as a residential home, a residential listing can be created, and the description must be tailored to a residential audience focusing on the aspect of living in the property, but briefly mentioning the business."