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| Submit Comments | Comments (17) | « Previous Story | Next Story »

CAROLE Bridge, left, and Gene Houghton are their fellow residents who are hoping to get The Woolpack pub in Pendleton reopened

Save our Woolpack

Kathryn Ryan

June 04, 2009

HUNDREDS of people have signed a petition for a boozer to be brought back to life.

The Woolpack pub in Pendleton shut down a year ago and has remained closed ever since.

However, it has now been put up for sale for £175,000 and sisters Gene Houghton and Carole Bridge are campaigning for it to be reopened as a pub.

The sisters have organised a petition which is available to sign at The Larder cafe in Salford Precinct.

The pub in Belvedere Road is described as a ‘development opportunity’ by the selling agents, who suggest it is ideal for a restaurant, day nursery or offices.

But Carole and Gene are determined it should return to being a community pub.

Carole, 49, of Pear Tree Court, Pendleton said: "I first went into The Woolpack when I was 18 and I was still going when it closed last year.

"The landlord retired and it closed.

"We thought that someone else might come into run it but then last week a for sale sign went up.

"We don’t want it to be anything other than a pub.

"I know quite a bit about the pub industry and The Woolpack was a great, busy pub - it would survive if it reopened.

"During the seventies and eighties the Broadwalk and Belvedere Road area had five pubs and was buzzing.

"Now we can’t even have friends round for drinks and music at home for fear of being served an ASBO. Are we not supposed to have a social life?

"The only alternative is to go into Manchester - but we want our local back."

Gene, 56, of Sycamore Court, Pendleton, said: "It was and will always remain the best pub in Salford.

"When these doors closed last year a community closed with it. People come from near and far, everyone knew each other and it was a pleasure to go to.

"The entertainment was second to none, especially on a Sunday afternoon. It was a fantastic place."

| Submit Comments | Comments (17) | « Previous Story | Next Story »

Most recent user comments 17 of 17

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Thanks for your number. My phone is currently getting upgraded and should be delivered tomorrow (depending on Royal Mail) which is why I have not been able to contact you and am doing so on this. Would you be up for doing an interview for me? Do you have an email address by any chance? I am very interested in this story. If you don't recieve this before phone arrives, I shall call you ASAP. Thanks, Holly.

Holly Duffy
19/11/2009 at 18:29

Holly, please feel free to give me a call on 07592 118122. And anybody else who would like to join our campaign group please get in touch soon as we are only awaiting the council to contact us for a meeting once the building survey report has been received. We need to form a committee. If you really care about getting the Woolpack reopened then get involved!

Carole Anne, Anglesey, North Wales
11/11/2009 at 13:07

Hi, I am looking for information on the Woolpack so that I can write a story about it for my university. Is it possible if I could speak to someone organising the campaign? Hopefully, it will ensure more people sign the petition and more will know of the story. H. Duffy.

Holly Duffy
10/11/2009 at 13:18

For those interested we have collected 350 signatures so far - that is 350 potential customers! There has been some activity at the pub last week, ie: the ex-landlord was seen showing people inside. Fingers crossed they were potential buyers!

Carole Moore
15/06/2009 at 15:30

These are excellent examples of the kind of snobbery we have to endure just because of where we live. Such as Lancashire 3va Pendlebury Manchester. Have you not got over the fact yet that Swinton is actually part of Salford - how sad! Get over it! This is about reopening a pub for Salford people who are not ashamed of where they come from and want to socialise with each other, young and old alike. I lived in a gorgeous part of North Wales for 7 years, but I'm still a Salford girl and care about my community. If you don't then keep your boring opinions to yourselves!

Carole Moore
12/06/2009 at 16:55

Are there any secret millionairs out there who would like to buy the woolpack pub in Salford? My sister will run it and make you a fortune! Should it reopen Frosty snowman is welcome,but that snob swizzle of Boothstown can go and do that very same thing, swizzle. If you ever went in the woolpack you would know exactly why we are campaigning very hard to try and get in repoened.So anyone with £175,000 spare let us know. 12.6.09 Gene Houghton

Gene Houghton
12/06/2009 at 14:56

Yes, must agree it isn't the nicest looking building, but neither is the Lowry Centre, looks like a tin can. But inside The Woolpack was lovely and a fabulous atmosphere. Now over 270 signatures from regulars who are waiting for the doors to re-open!

Carole Moore
12/06/2009 at 13:49

What a right eyesore this building is - just a total nondescript prefabricated box. If this was judged to be given Listed Building status it would be about a MINUS 5 at least. Rip it down now and open real pubs again - Salford had hundreds of them years ago - like the original Woolpack at the Bolton Road/Eccles Old Road junction with its "world famous" horse trough outside.

Lancashire 4ever, Pendlebury, Manchester, Lancashire
11/06/2009 at 21:02

SAVE OUR WOOLPACK - SALFORD! There is to be a meeting at The Oxford Pub on Wednesday 18 June 2009 at 8:00pm with CAMRA - to exchange ideas on how to upstage our campaign. Hazel Blears has expressed an interest in getting involved as have two other councillors, Norman Owen and Lynn Drake. Anybody wishing to attend will be most welcome. We have collected over 200 signatures so far!

Carole Moore
11/06/2009 at 16:50

Carole,

A public house needs a Premises Licence granting in order for it to be run as a licensed Premises. As well as this, it needs a DPS (Designated Premises Supervisor) to run it. This is the new term for a landlord. So in effect two types of licence, one for the pub itself, and one for who ever is running it. This system means that anyone who is qualified to be a DPS can take over at any stage, just needs to have the name transferred which is now a simple preocess.

The problem seems to be that either the building no longer has the premises licence, or whoever owns it, thinks they can get more for it selling it as another use, its one of the two.

If it does not have a premises licence the process is a bit more convaluted, but as long as there are no objections, and the police seem ok wioth it , then it shoud be fine. Since its next door to the station its hardly likely to cause problems.

I would suggest a few local breweries, namely JW Lees, Holt's, Robinsons, all of whom have been purchasing pubs in recent months. CAMRA will be very good to advise you here.

FrostySnowman,
8/06/2009 at 13:33

In answer to the query about the ASBO comment. When you live in high rise flats you can hear almost everything from the flats surrounding you and it is easy for even the most considerate person to get into bother with neighbours which is why we do need somewhere to socialise, ie: listen to music without disturbing our neighbours. And in answer to why the pub was suddenly closed without getting the license sorted out, the licensee themself has to have a personal licence to sell alchohol these days, not sure if the premises have to be licensed also but we have a meeting with CAMRA this week who will answer that question. Did have a chat with a police officer at weekend who cannot recall any significant incident at the pub for it to be refused a license and as for the price, £175,000 is not a great deal, it was up for £350,000 as a going concern. There are other pubs up for sale at a much greater price! The Flemish Weaver is up for sale for more than The Woolpack and needs a great deal more work doing on it - The Woolpack was immaculate inside!

Carole Moore
8/06/2009 at 13:10

I don't quite understand the circumstances in which this busy pub suddenly closed last year as it appears the agents who are selling, are offering it for alternative use as housing, nursery, etc., because the building no longer has a licence to operate as a public house. Its not clear why this is the case, or why the previous owner did not sort it out. Perhaps someone could thrown some light on this?

There is little point in starting a campaign to get it reopen as a pub, as no one who buys it can be guaranteed they will get the necessary licence, aside from the fact the price will not attract anyone

FrostySnowman,
8/06/2009 at 08:59

Carol Anne,

I was just wondering why they are not able to socialise in their own homes without the fear of being served with an ASBO as was mentioned in the article? It was my understanding that ASBO's were served for anti-social behaviour and not for a social soiree.

It was just that one sentence in the article which had me intrigued. I'm sorry it came across as an accusation of your sister's character.

They will be very welcome to round to my house for an evening of sherry, Pimms and Bach if they wish.

Swizzle, boothstown
5/06/2009 at 16:11

In reply to Swizzle I have never received an ASBO, and nor have I or any of my friends ever been abusive, paraletic or anything other than considerate to other people which is why my sister and I are trying to get this pub reopened FOR OUR COMMUNITY!!!

Carole Anne, Anglesey, North Wales
5/06/2009 at 14:47

It was a very very busy pub. Nobody expected it to close and is sorely missed by the very many regulars who went in there, mainly elderly who used to bring packed lunches to share and would get up and enjoy a sing song. They are the ones who provided the fabulous entertainment along with Roman, Chris and Ricky Cola the comperes. It was the most popular pub in the area so busy you could not get a seat and on the final night you could not move from the spot you were standing! We were and all remain devastated! In this day and age when most pubs are struggling for business it was a sin to close this one which was postively thriving!

Carole Moore
5/06/2009 at 13:18

I'm not sure how appealing this would be to anyone interested in running it as a pub. You have to ask why practically every pub that has ever existed on the Salford precinct area has failed , I think there are two left in the entire area. The comment about the ASBO may well put potential buyers off, I assume it was made tongue-in-cheek, but pubs these days are far more strictly regulated in terms of licensing matters and have to keep their house in order. It seems strange that the previous owner could not find a buyer if it was as successful as is being made out.

As it is being sold for development potential, it sounds like the premises licence could have lapsed. It is very difficult to get these back, but not impossible. At £175000 it is way too expensive for a pub, but some of the other options mantioned seem unrealistic as well. Possibly an Indian restaurant or something?

FrostySnowman,
5/06/2009 at 08:27

"Now we can’t even have friends round for drinks and music at home for fear of being served an ASBO. Are we not supposed to have a social life?"

Erm, I have friends round for drinks and a bit of music without EVER being served with an ASBO. Maybe thats because I am a considerate neighbour who keeps the noise level down, has guests who don't get paraletic or abusive, and call it quits at a reasonable hour.

No one is stopping you having a social life love.

Good grief!

Swizzle, boothstown
4/06/2009 at 15:24

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