The Black Swan celebrates a very Good Friday!

The official Open Day marked the completion of the on-going building work at the pub. Guests were treated to tea, coffee and pastries on arrival while tours of the new bedrooms took place. Then owners Neil & Anne McArthur cut the official ribbon and as a final gesture, placed some of it into a time capsule.

The time capsule containing many items from local community groups as well as the winning competition entry work from Oakwood Avenue School, a competition run in local schools by The Black Swan, was then sunk into the ground of the entrance area to be dug up again in 25 years’ time.

At the grand opening, Neil remarked “today sees the start of a new era. The investment we have made in the pub has made it, in turn, a real asset to the local area.” Last year, The Black Swan won North Cheshire CAMRA’s Community pub of the year because of the lengths it goes to within the small community. Now we have the function rooms and bedrooms, we can focus even more on becoming a hub for every section of the community.

The Open day was well received from everyone who attended with many commenting afterwards how wonderful the new bedrooms are. Local residents Angela and Dale West commented about the pub “Congratulations have to go to Stuart, the manager, and all his team, they have a great product, the rooms are fantastic and I’m sure it is going to be a massive success.”

Since being bought by Neil and Anne McArthur in 2009, under the keen eye of Neil’s business partner Graham, the 346 year old pub has undergone several make-overs to improve the appearance and experience for customers: In 2010, they completed the first stage of their refurbishment work, giving the pub itself a new look and developing the large field outside to incorporate a duck pond and village green area.

In 2012, work at The Black Swan began again this time to build the new kitchens and function room suitable for hosting events all year round and provide 14 new individually styled guest bedrooms.

The new function rooms, designed by Innex Design and built by Rosedale Construction, both local companies, are a real asset to the pub, which prides itself on being at the very heart of the community, and are already starting to get booked up with both pub-led and private events; in fact The Black Swan has already received 4 wedding bookings for later this year!

The 14 brand new bedrooms are finished to the highest standard; Seven are in a completely new wing of the building and are more modern in their appearance, while the other seven are in the old part of the pub where they have been keen to preserve the original features of the building, with wooden beams and more rustic and eclectic furniture.

Also celebrating his first year in the post of General Manager at The Black Swan, Stuart Wraith commented “I am so proud of what we have achieved in my first twelve months. And we are all excited about what the next twelve months will bring.”

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Posted: Thursday 11th April 2013
ID: 9955 - 935