Jane left crying into her beer...

Reporter: Ken Bennett
Date online: 28 April 2010

A landlady is to leave her pub in Saddleworth’s most isolated village — only six months after moving in.

Jane Gregson made the decision claiming that trade at The Junction Inn had dwindled, despite her having pumped thousands of pounds into the business.

The former coaching house dominates the crossroads at Denshaw which has seen another pub in the village centre call time six weeks ago.

Last year, the village post office, which doubled as a store selling everything from toilet rolls to teas bags, closed.

Jane, who has an impressive pedigree in the licensing trade, said: “I’m devastated. But I just can’t carry on throwing money at the business.”

Despite the heavy snows that closed the roads surrounding the pub for weeks at a time, 37-year-old Jane, a divorcee, was determined to give the business her best shots.

She appeared on a special “Trevor McDonald Tonight” programme highlighting problems brought by the prolonged winter storms.

And speaking after just moving into the property, she said: “I knew as soon as I walked into The Junction was for me. I’ve been in the pub trade a long time but this place just seemed so right.”

But yesterday, sitting outside the pub’s front entrance, she said: “Sometimes I have been on my own at the bar for hours after the tea-time drinkers have gone.

“I have tried everything to make the business work. I introduced lovely home-cooked meals for just £10 a couple. I tried music and karoke evenings — but nothing seemed to work.

“Even last weekend with a spell of good weather, I thought the place would fill up but it didn’t.

“People are buying barbecues and stocking up with burgers and cheap drinks from supermarkets and staying at home.”

Jane, managed The Gallows near where she was born at Milnrow for 14 years and later the Back Waggon Inn.

Junction regular Frank Warhurst said: “It’s a real blow that Jane has decided to give up.

“She’s a great girl and she has really tried everything to encourage customers to use The Junction.”

Jack Partington, area manager for JW Lees brewery, said: “Jane has put her whole heart into the business. It’s very upsetting.”