Campaign to save The Holly Bush Inn

10/06/2025

An Amendment to the planning permission of the Barn. Please look at https://pa.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/online-applications/search.do?action=simple ref 25/01338/S73

04/04/2025

Holly Bush campaign update – 4th April 2025
What’s happened?
The Holly Bush Pub building has just gone up for sale on Rightmove https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/159872057... although some of the details are incorrect or misleading. There is no mention that it’s a pub with zero parking, the stated mains drainage does not exist. Instead, drainage is to a non-functioning septic arrangement that’s shared with the other buildings, and in need of costly renewal. Other mains services are also shared with these buildings.
The building is correctly listed as ‘commercial’ and it says ‘that can be changed to desired building STPP.’ The chance of the planners approving change of use to residential on this historic pub is just about nil.
The asking price is £500,000 which, for a small pub in need of investment and with no parking, is a very large amount. There still is of course the original car park but that’s under different ownership and would need to be purchased separately.
The particulars say ‘Serious Buyers only, the viewing is subject to agents receiving documented confirmation of availability of funds before viewing can be arranged. Property can also be made available for rent, please let the agent know if you wish to explore that avenue.’
What else should we be aware of?
· We believe the pub is owned by a foreign couple with children, who have been in the UK for some time. They had hoped to be able to live there although the Council have said they can only do so if it operates as a pub.
· The owners have previously said they’re prepared to rent the pub on a 10-year lease whilst they move out.
· Despite this, one approach to rent never got off the ground because of unreasonable advance demands for detailed information about the prospective tenant.
· It may be the owners are not serious about renting or selling the property, which could be why they now want documented proof of funds before viewing can be arranged.
· Or, it could be they’re trying to convince the council that there is no serious interest in the pub in the hope that they will allow it to become a private residence. However, we do know there is interest from several parties and that the pub was operating at a profit when it was sold originally in 2021.
· According to Land Registry the owners purchased the pub on 22nd August 2023 for the sum of £145,812. Last year they were forced to re-thatch the original building at the insistence of the council who were concerned to protect the integrity of this Grade 2 listed property. The work was completed in June 2024 at a cost we think of about £25,000.
Can the pub still be saved?
YES, we believe it can. The above figures put the sale price into perspective and provide a basis for negotiation going forward. If the owners are prepared to be reasonable, we are confident that we can save the pub.
What happens now?
The best solution is for the local community to raise the money to buy the pub and so secure its future in perpetuity. This may not be easy but the owner of the car park is prepared to lease the car park to us to avoid initial capital expenditure if necessary.
We need to reach out to interested parties, including those who have previously pledged funds, and we need to see what community funding may have become available since the change of government.
We’ll report back here as soon as we have more news.
Check out this Commercial property for sale on Rightmove

07/01/2025

Holly Bush update Jan 2025
Many will have noticed that the pub was re-thatched last year. This expensive operation was apparently the result of Cheshire West Council enforcing the owner’s responsibility to keep listed buildings in good condition.
In the meantime, we believe that Cheshire West planners have stipulated that the pub building owners cannot live there unless it operates as a pub. This could be why they’ve not been seen for some time and why they’ve shown interest in renting out the ground floor as a pub whilst they live upstairs.
One issue is the lack of a car park, which is under separate ownership. However, the owner has said he would be prepared to sell or lease it. We understand there are interested parties.
The owner of the barn and ‘bungalow’ took his planning refusal to appeal and, after making significant changes to the proposal during the appeal hearing, was granted permission in July last year to operate the buildings as six short-term lets with a manager living on site. These can operate for a maximum of 11 months per year with a period of no occupation early each year. One condition of the consent was that the owner install two electric charging points for cars. At the time of writing refurbishment of the buildings appeared to be under way. We have no idea when they might open for business.
A similar application and appeal by the owner of the granary was turned down on the grounds of bio - diversity. A revised application was submitted in September last and remains to be decided.
The campaign group remain hopeful that the pub will reopen once the multiple ownerships can be resolved for the benefit of all involved.

01/10/2024

A new planning application has been submitted to CWAC ref: 24/02704/FUL.
Please have a look and make comments by 18th October.

2) Any text entered into the comment text box will be published without being moderated or redacted. Please do not enter any information you do not want to appear online.

04/09/2024

Update as at 1st September 2024
The group involved remain active and believe the pub will eventually re-open.
The barn appeal only succeeded because the planning application was changed during the appeal hearing.
The barn can now be used just for short term lets for 11 months of the year. It can never be residential.
Furthermore the barn owner has to grant public access to the cobbled area around the barn so the pub can be reached from the car park without having to walk along Smithy lane.
The owners of the main pub building have been told by Cheshire West planners they can only live there if it operates as a pub.
We believe they are now looking for someone to rent and operate the pub while they continue to live upstairs.

25/06/2024

The Planning Inspectorate have confirmed that the appeal for the Barn and Bungalow will be heard on the 2nd July (in Wyvern House, Winsford). The same Inspector will consider The Granary but this will be via Written Representations.
It will start at 10am and questions should be allowed.
Please advise by email if you are able to attend.
[email protected]

07/12/2023

Planning application 23/01252/FUL

Granary - proposal - change of use to create short term lets

REFUSED by CWAC planning on 7th December 2023

12/08/2023

If you want to help save our Pub, we need your help........by the 15th August 2023.

There is an updated planning application for the Barn & Bungalow which effectively changes their use to residential!

If approved this will almost certainly scupper our efforts to save the Pub.

PLEASE HELP by letting the planners know your feelings.

You can comment via this link https://pa.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/online-applications/
Ref: 23/01374/FUL
Comments need to be in by 15th August 2023 at the latest.

2) Any text entered into the comment text box will be published without being moderated or redacted. Please do not enter any information you do not want to appear online.

18/06/2023

The auction is next week…..
For those looking at this who do not know the history. It will NEVER get permission to be residential.
It is:-
• Grade II listed inside and out
• In Bartington conservation area
• Has Asset Of Community Value status
• Is listed as a Heritage Building in Cheshire to be protected
• Not going to get change of use away from Pub
• Has no car parking, not even one space!
• Needs a lot of work doing especially after the water leak
• No mortgage lender will support this type of property
There is a very active group looking to reopen it as a pub with a parking solution
BUYER BEWARE
Don't be like the previous buyers who thought it could make a nice house and lost a lot of money before pulling out.
Let our campaign succeed and then come and have a drink!

4 bedroom character property for sale in Warrington Road, Northwich - Large Detached Property In Approx 1/3rd Acre, CW8 for £100,000. Marketed by Auction Agent, Bury

17/06/2023

The auction is next week…..

For those looking at this who do not know the history. It will NEVER get permission to be residential.

It is:-

• Grade II listed inside and out

• In Bartington conservation area

• Has Asset Of Community Value status

• Is listed as a Heritage Building in Cheshire to be protected

• Not going to get change of use away from Pub

• Has no car parking, not even one space!

• Needs a lot of work doing especially after the water leak

• No mortgage lender will support this type of property

There is a very active group looking to reopen it as a pub with a parking solution

BUYER BEWARE

Don't be like the previous buyers who thought it could make a nice house and lost a lot of money before pulling out.

Let our campaign succeed and then come and have a drink!