It’s last orders for ‘dangerous’ ex-pub
A lANdMARK former pub in east Manchester had to be demolished as the building was unsafe, it has been confirmed.
The former Halfway House – at the junction of Ashton Old Road, Fairfield Road and Ogden lane in Higher Openshaw – was a popular Whitbread/Chesters brewery watering hole for decades.
Also known as both The Tower and Screwy Hughie’s in its time, it ceased trading in around 2009. It later became a gym, then a hardware shop.
The building was badly damaged in a fire in 2017. That left the building unsafe. It had scaffolding around it for a prolonged period.
It has now been reduced to a pile of rubble as the bulldozers moved in.
The distinctive green signs bearing its former names were still visible in the debris.
diane Heard said on Facebook: “Had my wedding reception in there in the 80s. Sad to see this happen.”
Sue Evanson said: “My dad was taught how to be a licensee there when Claude had it. It was 1961 and then he got his own pub, Fox Tavern Clayton lane. That is gone now.
“My friend also had her wedding reception there in 1969. I was chief bridesmaid aged 20 and lads from london that we met in Majorca all came up for the wedding party. Brilliant night it was in there. Happy days then.”
Coun Angeliki Stogia, executive member for environment, planning and transport at Manchester council said: “We can confirm that because of the condition of the building and the very serious risk to public safety, the city council had no alternative other than to intervene, using emergency dangerous building powers to demolish the premises. It is a pity that this building could not be saved.” The M.E.N. has so far been unable to contact the owner and it is unclear what will happen at the site.
No planning applications have been tabled.