North west news update 19 Jan 2024: 37 Stonegate pubs at risk of closure

Digital reporter Matthew Calderbank with today's top north west news headlines and weather

Transcript

00:00 Hello, I'm Matthew, Digital Reporter with today's headlines from across Lancashire.

00:05 Nearly 40 pubs and bars across Lancashire could be at risk of pulling their last pint,

00:10 as more than 4,500 Stonegate pubs could shut as owner TDR Capital seeks to refinance £2.6

00:16 billion in debt. Pubs at risk in Blackpool include Slug & Lettuce, Walkabout, Pop World,

00:22 The Manchester and Yates' and the Dickens' Inn at Cleveland's. Gary Lindsay, boss of

00:28 TDR Capital, which also owns supermarket Giant Asda, told the Business and Trade Select Committee

00:32 he was confident the business could be refinanced this year.

00:37 Tipsy Chef Street Food, famous for its smash burgers, dirty fries and fried chicken, is

00:41 closing one of its two Preston branches. The popular eatery is leaving its unit at Preston

00:45 Market but will retain its branch in Lancaster Road. Noticing the closure on Facebook, owner

00:50 Jay Oates said customers need not panic as they are merely merging the two sites, but

00:54 will be extending their opening hours at the Lancaster Road restaurant to seven days a

00:59 week.

01:00 A former pub in the south of Lancaster Village has been listed for sale at just under £300,000.

01:05 Fisher Rathall are advertising the Grade II listed Victoria Inn at Glasson Dock on their

01:09 commercial sales listing at a guide price of £299,950. The pub has been shut for several

01:15 years and has fallen into disrepair, although owner Graham Cass had previously hoped to

01:19 renovate the venue. The well-known former public house with rooms is in a sought-after

01:23 location with a car park and it's hoped it can be taken on by a buyer who can restore

01:27 it to its former glory.

01:30 The owner of Ships and Giggles in Burnley says it's time for a fresh start after the

01:34 pub was put up for sale this week. Andy Mack, who brought Max to the town centre in 2015

01:39 when he took over the former Wok back premises, is now residing in the north of Scotland with

01:44 no plans to return to Burnley. Andy believes the venue still has potential and is hopeful

01:48 someone will come along and give it the TLC it deserves.

01:52 A much-loved Wigan man who suddenly collapsed and died had pneumonia from an inquestor's

01:57 head.

01:58 Michael Batch, 24, died on Saturday, June 10 at Hindle Lodge in Hindley, where he was

02:03 a resident in a supported living apartment. Staff told Bolton Coroner's Court that his

02:07 skin suddenly changed colour and his breathing became shallow, so paramedics were called

02:11 but sadly he could not be saved. Michael was part of a large family, attended a residential

02:15 college before moving to Hindle Lodge, loved music and supported Everton FC.

02:20 Consultant pathologist Dr Sharma recorded Michael's medical cause of death as pneumonia

02:25 caused by cerebral palsy, with epilepsy as a contributing factor. Coroner Stephen Teasdale

02:30 concluded Michael died by natural causes.

02:34 The weather today has been a frosty start with icy stretches and freezing fog patches

02:38 slowly clearing this morning. A dry, sunny day should follow, though some clouds will

02:42 build later in the afternoon. Temperatures slightly higher than of late, but still feeling

02:45 cold with strengthening winds. Maximum temperature around 6 degrees Celsius. And tonight it should

02:51 remain dry overnight, with skies clouding over, a blustery night and coastal gales developing

02:56 by dawn. Chillier but less cold than recent nights, with only a patchy rural frost. Minimum

03:01 temperature 1 degrees Celsius. Have a good day.

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