It’s roll up, roll up, for the big pub takeaway...
Fittings go free to eX-regulars
THERE’S a well-worn jokey sign in many pubs saying Free Beer – Tomorrow!
But next Friday, former regulars of The Swan in Marsden are to get the chance to take away memorabilia including chairs, tables, drip trays, bar stools, dartboards, glasses, mirrors and ashtrays – for free.
Recent landlords of the Station Road pub, which served ale as long ago as 1839, have struggled to make a success of it.
It had fallen in and out of management, and after struggling to secure a new landlord, the pub chain, Thwaites, put it up for sale.
The building was left with ugly steel shutters boarding up the windows and doors for over six months in the picturesque Pennine village.
Marsden builders SB Homes Ltd have now had the bright idea of allowing regulars the chance to take away items before the pub is turned into four commercial units.
Upstairs will be retained as residential accommodation.
A spokeswoman, Amy Byram, said: “We are delighted to be able to bring this traditional, stone-built Marsden building back to life - and have already begun making headway with clearing the interior of the property.
“When cleaning out the various rooms, it quickly became clear that some of the contents may hold nostalgic value to former pub regulars.
“Rather than resell them, or send them to the skip, we would like to offer local residents the opportunity to visit the pub - for one last time - and browse the items/take away anything they would like to keep, as their own, small reminder of the pub.
“Items include bar stools, tables, beer glasses - from various lager brands - dartboards and other paraphernalia.
“There are also useful kitchen items available to take, for free, including plates and cutlery.
“We have three families/former pub landlords coming, and we expect at least 100 other people to turn up on the day.
“One of the families includes Pamela Burgess - her father John Gough became the landlord in 1964 and remained for 23 years.
“She moved there at the age of three and said her sister was born there.
“The pub dates back to 1839. We also have lots of old receipts from the 1930s, which the landlord kept in the loft.
“It includes details/purchases of beer, old newspapers and so on. There’s so much history in the pub, including photographs of the Marsden floods in 1946.”
She said some of the memorabilia had been reserved.
Dave Wood, project manager for the site, said: “We’ve had an unbelievable amount of interest.
“I was astonished at how popular our offer has been. Items like the beer pumps have been reserved for Colne Valley Scouts for their outdoor events. A lot of groups are after these.”
The ‘open house’ will take place from 10am-2pm on Friday.
For those who can’t make the date, contact Dave Wood on 07952 745081 to make arrangements.