Hands off our grime!

Landlady rejects plan to sandblast old pub

A PUB landlady has won the hearts of a village and conservationists after turning down a proposal to clean her pub's stonework.

Angie Reilly and her husband, Billy, have just moved to the Diggle Hotel, owned by pub company Enterprise Inns.

As part of a £140,000 refurbishment, the company planned to sandblast the walls — but the couple asked them to leave the grime intact.

“The pub has built up strong heritage over the centuries and we wanted to keep it that way,” said Angie.

“The exterior grime from long-gone industry really adds to its character, which is much loved by locals and visitors. The pub bosses were very understanding.”

Councillor Mike Buckley, chairman of Saddleworth Historical Society and former heritage champion, welcomed the pub company’s agreement to leave the grime behind.

An outspoken critic of the trend to clean historic stone buildings in Saddleworth, he said: “Stone cleaning not only damages the stonework but destroys the traditional character of the building, making it stand out from its environment rather than blend in. This is not dirt to be removed but a natural patina acquired by age. Good luck to the new tenants: I look forward to celebrating the victory in the newly-refurbished pub with a pint.”