The Rake gets a £300,000 makeover

Mark Wickham and Martin Hirst

The Rake Restaurant and Hotel in Littleborough has been provided with over £300,000 from Barclays.

Located in a 16th century building and steeped in history, The Rake is run by Mark and Dawn Wickham.

Mr Wickham, Owner and Chef at The Rake, said: “Barclays have shown great faith in our business by altering our business model and supporting the investment in the business, so we are very excited about the opportunities which lie ahead.

“It has been a tough couple of years, not just for us but for the sector as a whole. But, far from withdrawing support, Barclays has given us the opportunity to re-focus the company and introduce new capital. The business is in a great position now to grow over the next few years thanks to the continued support of Barclays, who are an integral part of our team.”

The money from Barclays has helped the business create four boutique style letting rooms and the Hay Rake Micro Brewery.

The Rake is a very old coaching inn and there was a microbrewery on site during Victorian times. The building has been known as ‘The Rake’ for over 400 years, although where it derives its name from is unclear.

Martin Hirst, Barclays Business Manager, said: “The last few years haven’t been easy for many small businesses in the sector, however, by providing additional working capital and support together with specialist advice we’ve been able to partner with Mark and Dawn to assist them with their future growth plans.

“With the introduction of the four new boutique rooms and a microbrewery, we are confident that they can capitalise on their business model to attract many customers to their unique and historic location.

“We believe the end of the recession is paving the way for dynamic people who want to run businesses they are passionate about, and we want to help them achieve those ambitions, in the right way. I would encourage any small business owners like Mark and Dawn who are looking for advice and support to come along and speak to Barclays.”