Residents campaign to save final historic pub on Alder Lane

Locals have come together in an attempt to purchase Fiddle I'th Bag Inn on Alder Lane, near Newton-le-Willows, due to its significance as the final original place markers laid down in the village and civil parish in the 1840s.

The pub, with its origins traced back to the 19th century, closed its doors on New Year's Eve in 2018 and has since been desired by potential buyers.

The Star understands that plans to restore the premises and reopen as an Italian restaurant were discussed last year, however, it appears the pub remains on the market, with hopes the premises will undergo a full restoration and reopen as a traditional community pub. 

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Rob Minjoot and other determined residents approached David Barton, community campaigner, to help the group secure the premises.

David said: "There really is a strong community spirit behind all this; it’s not just how a building looks, it’s also about what it does for the people that live around the area.

"The residents care so much about this place; it would be an absolute sin to lose another fantastic building.

"It would be fantastic to bring this place back to show that, if not just the Fiddle I’th Bag Inn, this can happen with other empty vacant pub sites.

"We would rather underpromise and over-deliver. Our main priority is getting this investment; this will probably be the hardest aspect of the campaign."

The pub closed its doors in 2018

The group also shared that it would be open to working alongside other potential investors to bring the pub back to its former glory.

The campaigner, who has a background in supporting groups to restore historical buildings, stated that a deadline is looming for the group to secure the pub.

David added: "Should a purchaser materialise who shares our same community-based resolve and wishes to bring back this community bastion, then we will wholeheartedly support them and do what we can to promote the site becoming a local landmark community hub once more.

"We are ideally looking at securing the premises in the first instance through an Angel Investor style set-up that will permit us to action our refurbishment plans soon after with the support that we have mustered to establish a CIC model also known as an Asset of Community Value.

"We are prepared to work alongside any third party that does acquire the premises, especially as we would be able to support them in undertaking a full refurbishment and restoration of the site should they wish to see the premises become a traditional pub once again."