Feeling fleeced over pub closure

UP for sale: the Golden Fleece

CUSTOMERS who shelled out hundreds of pounds for Christmas dinner have been left feeling fleeced — for the pub has closed down.

Locals had booked and paid deposits to eat at the Golden Fleece in Denshaw on Christmas Day — but were dismayed to see the doors locked and the pub up for sale.

Kathryn Wayman, who paid £160 in deposits for a table for eight, has been unable to contact Mark and Angela Flynn, who ran the pub. A hand-written note in the window of the Oldham Road venue simply refers customers to call the regional manager of Punch Taverns which owns the building.

Kathryn said: “My mum said the pub never seemed very busy but we wanted to support them and give them our trade. I only found out it had shut down when I drove past and saw the ‘For Sale’ sign.

“It’s a good job I noticed it: we could have turned up for dinner or the week before to pay off the remainder and find we didn’t have a booking. That would have been three generations of our family eating beans on toast for Christmas dinner. We paid our deposit back in September.

“Luckily we have managed to book somewhere else, but any later and it could have been difficult to get in anywhere. I’m disappointed for them, but I’m disappointed that this has happened.”

Punch Taverns confirmed the pub has closed and that the property and business are now up for sale.

A spokesman said: “As the pub is operated effectively as the landlord’s own business, unfortunately there is very little we can do to help these people.”

The Chronicle was unable to contact the former landlords. The phone lines are no longer active.