Star readers react to closure of the Running Horses

As reported by the Star yesterday, notices were placed on the windows and doors of the Running Horses on Chalon Way which confirmed that the pub had ceased trading.

The closure followed weeks of speculation about the venue's future and comes only 12 months after it was opened by Lancashire-based brewery Green Leisure.

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The Running Horses relaunched in March 2023 (Image: St Helens Star)
In March 2023, Green Leisure owners Jeremy Peel and Ben Gregg took on the reins of the former Wetherspoons venue, which started out as Chicago Rock back in 2001.

Twelve months ago, Mr Peel told the Star that he saw "a lot of potential" in the Running Horses and believed that the Green Leisure team could "bring it back to life".

The Green Leisure team stated plans to grow the town centre boozer with its four pool tables, live sports, food menu and live entertainment.

In the weeks that followed, bar staff said that they were "overwhelmed [at] how much support" the town had shown the pub's relaunch, and in August the business was taking suggestions from customers to rename and rebrand the venue.

The pub's pool tables were hoped to bring more people into the venue (Image: St Helens Star)
The Star has been unable to get a response from the Green Leisure owners after, and in the weeks leading up to the pub's closure, but it seems that business has not been strong enough in a particularly challenging period for pubs.

Highlighting the ongoing difficulties from the cost of living crisis, the Ship Inn in Blackbrook and Clock Face Hotel are further large venues that have closed or are closing their doors.

With another large pub closing its doors in St Helens, we have picked out a handful of reactions from Star readers.

Inside the Chalon Way pub (Image: St Helens Star)
Ian Whittaker said: "Always sad to see a business close, whether you agree or not with what they were trying to achieve.

"People have invested their time and money to open, it's easy to sit behind a keyboard when you've never done it yourself, likely never will but this town, certainly many on here love it when a business fails.

"Always first to jump in and say the usual "won't last" or "I'm not surprised" etc...Good luck to the people behind this in their future endeavours."

Pryce James Fil said: "Problem is if you ain't in it for the long-term, have some capital behind you and have good ideas this was inevitable.

"Throwing in a few pool tables and TV's and expecting people to turn up was never going to work.

"While I would never knock anybody for trying, the amount of new businesses that open but close after a year or two or in some cases less than a year seems pretty high in St Helens."

Tina Entwistle wrote: "Pubs are closing and town centre shops are closing up and down the country.

The pandemic,business rates ,interest rates,austerity and us lot shopping online and at retail parks instead have all contributed.

"Only the city centres and touristy places are surviving. The High street/town centre as we once knew it is dead."

Thatto Heath Labour Club said: "Shame to see another pub gone in the town! We are personally thriving thanks to our dedicated customers! We have amazing shows that don’t break the bank also!"

Stephen Woodside wrote: "It closed because of the high rates, according to one of the pubs employees."

Richard Broderick commented: "Sign of the times."

Nathan Chadwick wrote: "That was short lived."

Rowe Collier said: "I loved this place when it was the Chicago rock I went every week it had great music, I remember having to que up to get in."

Karen Hawkins commented: "Turn it back into Chicago rock."

Lee Allen wrote: "They needed to keep the restaurant part open simple, went in a couple times and no food had been served."

The letter confirming the pub's closure (Image: St Helens Star)