Bank House, Hixon.

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EasMid

Well-Known Forumite
Yes, that’s exactly how it happened. They blame the locals for the sudden closure but don’t mention the fact that they’ve been trying unsuccessfully to sell the lease & equipment for nearly 2 years. They tried to make it an “exclusive” fine dining establishment &,as such, after the initial honeymoon period the vast majority of patrons were people who travelled from outside the village. During the pandemic they obviously closed but during the times they were allowed to open they hardly ever did & it was impossible to know when they were open or closed. We’ve gone there a few times hoping to have a drink just to find it closed. During the recent shutdown they had various pop ups on the carpark for takeaways but the building was shut up.
They opened the bar midweek of the wc 12/4 for a day or 2 then closed again without warning.

Many people hoped that with the demise of the Green Man the Bank House would start to offer something a bit more popular with the locals. As the only pub in the village I’m sure it could be a very popular place (as both pubs were in the past) but it seems the owners were adamant they’d run it as a more up market establishment & then blame the failure on everyone else.
As I said before, it really is a shame. Weve been going there for over 40 years.
 
E

EasMid

Well-Known Forumite
Noah said:
Any information about it?
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@Noah
I haven’t got details about the Cock at present but they’ve got a Facebook page with all their info, menus etc on it.
The bar (obviously all outside at present) is open most evenings from 5pm & they serve very good food later in the week & weekends. I think you have to book but it’s best to anyway.
During the shutdown they been doing a very successful takeaway service evenings & Sunday lunch at very reasonable prices.
(P. S. The present owners took over during lockdown & have done a great job of providing the local community with a much needed service which seems to have been well supported. I think a few forum members will recognise the owner’s surname. I’m not sure if they’re related, I’ve never felt appropriate to ask yet)
 
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Mudgie

Mudgie

Well-Known Forumite
EasMid said:
Yes, that’s exactly how it happened. They blame the locals for the sudden closure but don’t mention the fact that they’ve been trying unsuccessfully to sell the lease & equipment for nearly 2 years. They tried to make it an “exclusive” fine dining establishment &,as such, after the initial honeymoon period the vast majority of patrons were people who travelled from outside the village. During the pandemic they obviously closed but during the times they were allowed to open they hardly ever did & it was impossible to know when they were open or closed. We’ve gone there a few times hoping to have a drink just to find it closed. During the recent shutdown they had various pop ups on the carpark for takeaways but the building was shut up.
They opened the bar midweek of the wc 12/4 for a day or 2 then closed again without warning.

Many people hoped that with the demise of the Green Man the Bank House would start to offer something a bit more popular with the locals. As the only pub in the village I’m sure it could be a very popular place (as both pubs were in the past) but it seems the owners were adamant they’d run it as a more up market establishment & then blame the failure on everyone else.
As I said before, it really is a shame. Weve been going there for over 40 years.
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I remember Bass Charrington owning both pubs in the 1970s and their plans to close the Bank House, and retain the Green Man, being abandoned after opposition by villagers and the local CAMRA branch.
I think I've remembered John Hyde was the licensee.
Few then could have imagined both pubs closed now.
Half of page 13 of this week's Stafford Newsletter is given over to a "Popular pub closes after 'abuse on social media'" article. If I were one for writing letters to editors I might ask if that was the only reason for closure especially as "popular" should mean profitable for a well run company.
I can't see the attraction of their venues with food no better than elsewhere but at a higher price. .
 
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E

EasMid

Well-Known Forumite
Yes, John Hyde ran the place in the 70”s until it was closed down. IIRC he took over from his Dad. It was closed for a few years & eventually, after a much needed modernisation, reopened. Heidi & John Hall ran the place very successfully for many years ( I think they may have been the first tenants after the refurb) until probably the late 90”s. It’s changed tenants many times since but no one has been as successful. It’s had several makeovers & extension/rebuilds in that time all to no avail (I think all the changes are probably part of the problem.
It’s a shame really because it a potential goldmine. If only I was about 30 years younger!!
P. S. Mudgie”s last paragraph above is spot on.
 
Mudgie

Mudgie

Well-Known Forumite
EasMid said:
Yes, John Hyde ran the place in the 70”s until it was closed down. IIRC he took over from his Dad. It was closed for a few years & eventually, after a much needed modernisation, reopened. Heidi & John Hall ran the place very successfully for many years ( I think they may have been the first tenants after the refurb) until probably the late 90”s. It’s changed tenants many times since but no one has been as successful. It’s had several makeovers & extension/rebuilds in that time all to no avail (I think all the changes are probably part of the problem.
It’s a shame really because it a potential goldmine. If only I was about 30 years younger!!
P. S. Mudgie”s last paragraph above is spot on.
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I remember John Hyde having a Bank House float in the Stafford Pageant, 1977 I think.
 
Withnail

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
Chris Lewis is a bit thin skinned?

Colour me surprised.




Admin edit: Edited unnecessary venom.
 
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Carole

Carole

Well-Known Forumite
I've been chatting to a few people this week who have lived in Acton Trussell for donkeys years.
Apparently the word on the street is that it's not a happy place at the moment.

Obviously i don't know how true it all is but apparently (according to locals) since his father died, the rudder has been lost.
 
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E

EasMid

Well-Known Forumite
The Bank House has new licencees. It’s due to reopen shortly ( possibly W/c 24/5). It’ll be run as a “traditional pub serving traditionsl beers & traditional pub food). Great news all round. Best of luck to them. Let’s hope they succeed where others have failed so dismally. It sounds like they’re doing exactly what is needed. Can’t wait to give it a go.
 
Entropy

Entropy

Well-Known Forumite
Paid them a visit on Monday afternoon after visiting Project D in Hixon. They were about still setting up and let us sit outside in the sun whilst they carried on their setting up.

they were nice enough to open up and take our order before officially opening up which was really good of them, great service, friendly and happy....couldn't fault it really, aside from the price...£4.35 for a pint of Amstel........

I know its a captured market with the nearest proper watering hole being in Great Heywood, but still! OUCH!
 
littleme

littleme

250,000th poster!
Entropy said:
Paid them a visit on Monday afternoon after visiting Project D in Hixon. They were about still setting up and let us sit outside in the sun whilst they carried on their setting up.

they were nice enough to open up and take our order before officially opening up which was really good of them, great service, friendly and happy....couldn't fault it really, aside from the price...£4.35 for a pint of Amstel........

I know its a captured market with the nearest proper watering hole being in Great Heywood, but still! OUCH!
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Isn't that why the last owners/managers left.... Customers complaining about their prices? :ohno:
 
Cue

Cue

Well-Known Forumite
I don’t even drink but I’m intrigued by this whole ordeal, we eyed up the place on Monday to sit outside for lunch until we realised they weren’t serving food and I guess now that all makes sense as to why.

Also damn you @Entropy Project D were gone by the time we get there on Monday so we’ve ordered for their local run tomorrow in the end
 
Entropy

Entropy

Well-Known Forumite
Cue said:
I don’t even drink but I’m intrigued by this whole ordeal, we eyed up the place on Monday to sit outside for lunch until we realised they weren’t serving food and I guess now that all makes sense as to why.

Also damn you @Entropy Project D were gone by the time we get there on Monday so we’ve ordered for their local run tomorrow in the end
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I believe Project D are at Amerton Farm this Sunday

Yes prices are high, but if you want to go for a beer in the local....where else can you go in Hixon? Apart from the village green.
 
Feed The Goat

Feed The Goat

Well-Known Forumite
Entropy said:
Paid them a visit on Monday afternoon after visiting Project D in Hixon. They were about still setting up and let us sit outside in the sun whilst they carried on their setting up.

they were nice enough to open up and take our order before officially opening up which was really good of them, great service, friendly and happy....couldn't fault it really, aside from the price...£4.35 for a pint of Amstel........

I know its a captured market with the nearest proper watering hole being in Great Heywood, but still! OUCH!
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I went to a pub on the south coast who charged £13.80 for a pint of Peroni and a pint of shandy.

£6.90 a pint was the price and not a mistake.

I will not be returning.
 
Mudgie

Mudgie

Well-Known Forumite
Feed The Goat said:
I went to a pub on the south coast who charged £13.80 for a pint of Peroni and a pint of shandy.

£6.90 a pint was the price and not a mistake.

I will not be returning.
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They saw you coming !
I was paying about £4.30 a pint in Brighton two years ago.
 
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