2022 was a tough year for the hospitality industry, and several pubs in East Lancashire were forced to close their doors.
From fires to soaring energy bills, pubs in the regions closed for many different reasons last year.
Here are some pubs and bars in East Lancashire that we loved and lost in 2022:
1. Sir Charles Napier, Blackburn
This community-run rock music pub closed in December as a result of rising costs and the coronavirus lockdowns.
In 2015, a campaign was launched to save the venue after its closure.
It was backed by hundreds of people, including Rob Halford of British heavy metal pioneers Judas Priest.
It was reopened after locals set up a community company to run it as a social enterprise.
A spokesperson from Daniel Thwaites, the brewery which owns the pub, said the current operators had built up “significant rental arrears” and together they tried to find a viable solution.
Thwaites said they were “left with no alternative” but to pursue legal action and take possession of the pub.
2. The Station Pub, King Street, Clitheroe
The Station Bar and Grill, in King Street, Clitheroe, closed in 2022 and is still sitting empty months later.
On the website, the listing reads: “Located in the busy market town of Clitheroe, the Station Bar and Grill is a beautiful, stand-alone, Victorian property.
“A large central bar serves the surrounding extensive seating areas. There is a fully equipped catering kitchen including a walk-in fridge and pizza oven.
“Upstairs, there is a private meeting room along with eight en-suite letting bedrooms, each with their own individual style, five double bedrooms, one twin bedroom and two superior bedrooms. Also located on the upper floors is a one-bedroom manager’s flat.
“To the rear of the property, there is an attractive beer garden, smoking shelter and parking available.
“There is opportunity to convert the parking spaces into an undercover dining area.”
3. Red Lion, Whitebirk Road, Blackburn
Once the oldest pub in Blackburn, The Red Lion closed in September.
The pub will never reopen as it was transformed into Asian restaurant MyLahore in August.
It was renovated both inside and out with exterior landscaping helping to free up parking for the 130-seater restaurant.
Owner, Shakoor Ahmed, said: “It has been challenging but also pleasing to be opening in Blackburn.
“The building was not in a good state when we took it over and a lot of hard work went into revitalising the site while also respecting the heritage”.
“We were determined to keep certain elements of the historic building intact. You will find that the floor, fireplaces and windows and the main parts of the building are essentially the same.”
4. The Park, Harwood Lane, Great Harwood
This pub closed its doors in August and has since remained empty.
Owners, Craig and Darina Currie, say they couldn’t afford to keep the pub open as the cost of living crisis rages on.
They said their problems began with the Covid pandemic which they described as an “incredibly difficult 12 to 18 months”.
It’s not all doom and gloom as a new landlady, Elizabeth Adshead, is set to take over later this month
5. Crown and Thistle Inn, Roman Road, Hoddlesden
The Crown and Thistle was a much-loved pub and many punters were disappointed when it closed back in July, as it was at the heart of the community for more than a decade.
Owners Mo and Julie Zhabi did a lot to help the community over the years, including helping to provide thousands of free meals to elderly and vulnerable members of the community during the coronavirus lockdown.
In November, plans were unveiled to turn the site into houses after Mo applied to Blackburn with Darwen Council for planning permission to make the change.
6. The Farthings, Roe Lee, Blackburn
A fire broke out at this pub in the early hours of Saturday morning on September 10.
Pictures sent to the Lancashire Telegraph show the roof of the pub burnt away.
At the time of the fire, the pub was while owners Stoneygate searched for a new tenant.
A Blackburn and Darwen police spokesperson said: “Two people were seen entering the grounds of the pub at 2.25am, with two people seen leaving at 2.29am.”
The future of the pub is now uncertain.
7. The Adelphi, Railway Road, Blackburn
This cabaret bar closed in September after “making history as Blackburn’s only cabaret bar”.
In 2019 Tony and Tom Bromwich took over the pub with ambitious plans to bring the colour and spectacle of The Friends of Dorothy (FOD) to the pub.
Their last show was Saturday, September 3, and they brought drag queens and entertainers to the stage that has “been part of the FOD family” for three years.
At the time they said: They said: “Don't forget folks we made history in Blackburn.
“We just want to thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for your amazing custom and support over the last four years we will miss you all and again thank you all.”
A spokesperson for Admiral Taverns said: “We have 1,600 pubs across the country, and we work hard in partnership with all our licensees, however in the case of The Adelphi, the licensee has taken the decision to leave.
"We are in the process of looking for a new licensee to take on the pub, and ensure The Adelphi has a long-term, sustainable future."
8. Shh! Bar, Northgate, Blackburn
Blackburn said goodbye to this town centre bar, known for its 1920s speakeasy décor, in November.
They planned to move to the former home of the Ribblesdale Hotel, Gladstone’s and Baroque, as part of the Townscape Heritage Project in the Blakey Moor area.
These plans were later axed and bar owners Michael Mohan and Martin Booth-Morton announced that they ‘for many reasons, will not be moving to what was to be their new home’.
On November 15 they said: “It's with a heavy and very sad heart that we feel we have had to close the door for the last time.
“Thank you to each and every one of you for supporting and looking after us for the last five years.”
Did we miss any pubs off? Let us know in the comments.
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