A new operator could soon be at the helm of a former Wetherspoons which closed suddenly last month. Punters were left 'devastated' when The Robert Peel pub, in Bury, ceased trading without warning.
It closed its doors for the final time on Sunday, March 27, with customers shocked at the pub's sudden departure. JD Wetherspoon did not give a reason for the closure, but the company confirmed staff were not being made redundant, with positions being offered at the chain's other pubs.
The building which is home to The Robert Peel - 5-10 Market Place - was put on the market last year. The site is now under offer, and the Manchester Evening News understands another hospitality operator is in talks to reopen the building as a pub.
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The pub is named after the former MP and mill owner Sir Robert Peel, whose statue stands just metres away on Market Place. It opened its doors in 1997 and the building was given a revamp in the early 2000s.
5-10 Market Place was placed onto the market by estate agents Savills and CBRE last summer as a pub alongside an office space upstairs, with the premises above having a separate entrance from Market Place. It was marketed as holding a licence for selling alcohol until 12.30am, Sunday to Thursday, and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Readers were sad to lose The Robert Peel when the M.E.N. reported the news last month. One commented: "No way! Where are all the youth going to start their night off now then?"
Another person wrote that they were 'absolutely devastated' after they 'had some fun in there back in the day', while a third added: "Hope Wetherspoons manages to stay open had some good times there and the food was nice." The Art Picture House, Bury's other 'Spoons', is still being run as part of the chain.
Following the pub's closure, JD Wetherspoon spokesperson Eddie Gershon said: “The Robert Peel has now closed. Its final day of trading as a Wetherspoon pub was on Sunday (March 27).
"On occasion, Wetherspoon does close some of its pubs and this is the case here. We fully understand that customers and staff will be disappointed with the decision and we thank them for their loyalty over the years.
"There will be no staff redundancies as a result of the closure with all staff offered jobs at other Wetherspoon pubs. Wetherspoon will continue to operate The Art Picture House pub in Haymarket Street, Bury.”
