Work begins to strip old Littleborough pub ahead of new use

Photo: Reece Horton

Reece Horton behind the bar of the former Royal Oak Hotel

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Work has begun to strip an old Littleborough pub for its new lease of life as the base for a local community group.

Keeping in with its ethos, Reuse Littleborough received keys to its new home on the ground floor of the former Royal Oak Hotel on 18 June and confirmed it will be up and running six days each week at the end of July.

Reuse Littleborough aims to reuse many unwanted items and save them from the bin, giving them new leases of life by passing them on to families in need.

Currently based in Smallbridge, the shops at Stevenson Square will remain open every Saturday from 10am to 4pm until the move.

The Royal Oak, a Robinson’s pub, closed in 2015 and was delicensed on 5 January 2018. These photos by Reece Horton show the empty shell of memories left in the premises.

Originally an 18^th century posting inn with stables and large land holdings, the former pub was used by the famous dialect writer Tim Bobbin as the base of his work, “A view of the Lancashire dialect.” Bobbin, real name John Collier (1708 – 1786), was an acclaimed caricaturist and satirical poet who lived and worked as a teacher in Milnrow.

Planning permission has been sought to convert the building to flats and a retail space, which will be occupied by Reuse Littleborough, who are looking at becoming a registered charity.

Since its inception, the group has helped change the lives of many people both locally and internationally with your old items that have been kept out of landfill.

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Donations can be dropped off at the group’s current premises at Stevenson Square on Saturdays between 10am and 4pm.

Local collections can also be arranged.

To find out more, contact Michael:
reuselittleborough@gmail.com
07951 730 458