Littleborough coach house celebration dinner

Community members, Councillors and supporters at the Coach House Trust dinner

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Community members, both old and new, as well as councillors and other supporters held a dinner to celebrate the purchase of the freehold of the old Coach House, Littleborough from the brewery free from all restrictions.

An excellent evening was enjoyed in the Harvey Room. Food was from the Greek-style Taverna run by Stewart Demetriades on the ground floor of the Coach House. Humour was by Littleborough entertainer Dudley Doolittle, and after dinner speeches were given by Littleborough residents George Kelsall, John Kay (a director of Rochdale Online) and John Parker.

The raffle on the evening was for an original Painting of Ealees Bridge by local Artist Geoff Butterworth, who was also present with his wife Andrea.

In 1981 the Littleborough Community decided that the old Coach House for the Falcon Inn, a listed building, should be renovated to provide a meeting place for Littleborough’s many community organisations as well as a heritage and visitor’s centre.

The lease from the brewery, at a nominal rent, was restrictive and although the charity runs at a small profit each year, it could not afford to pay a full market rental. This had threatened the building with closure when its lease comes to an end.

The charity now has its freedom and can develop to meet the future needs of the Littleborough Community. All it requires is to raise £30,000 to pay back the loan which Barclays Bank has provided.

The dinner made a profit of over £1,000 towards the £30,000 needed to make the Coach House free from all debt.