Staff at Ship Inn announce pub will close this week

A popular drinking den in Blackbrook and Haydock for decades, the Ship Inn building was taken over by brewing company Greene King in 2019, and is run by an independent operator.

A new management team of Steve and Kim Padgham was put in place earlier this year, who describe the pub online as the "friendliest local in Haydock".

However, it has now been confirmed that the Blackbrook Road pub will close for the final time on Sunday, October 22.

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Steve said that Greene King, which owns the building, put the business up for sale and attempted to sell it to another brewery this summer, as it was "not going to put any more [money] into the pub".

However, as no bids have come in for the business, it is believed that the independent operator decided to close the pub due to its financial difficulties and hand the lease back to the brewery.

Speaking to the Star about the closure, Steve said: "Greene King have pulled the plug unfortunately as the pub wasn't making enough money, which is a similar case with pubs across the country.

"Our regulars are gutted as some of them have been drinking here for over 40 years and I feel sorry for them really."

The Ship in the 1970s (Image: St Helens Local History and Archives)
With Steve currently living above the pub on Blackbrook Road, he added that he will have to find somewhere to live after the pub is closed.

The pub manager also did not know what the building would be turned into, but said that staff are being supported to find new roles.

Announcing the news on social media, Steve and Kim said that their time at the pub has been a "blast" and thanked the "amazing people" that they have served and made friends with.