The bar from the former Bay Malton Hotel in Broadheath has been saved – and will be resurrected in a hotel 20 miles away.
Entrepreneur Bill Kenyon has bought the century-old bar and fittings from the Altrincham pub and will install them in his Holland Hall Hotel in Lancashire, which is currently undergoing refurbishment.
He says it cost him “less money than a week in Majorca”.
“The majority of chain hotel bars are notorious for being soul-less, over-lit, over-priced, flat-packed ‘designer’ productions, bigged-up as being styled to appeal to the discerning, and which by trying to cater for all actually appeal to few,” he said.
“They’re neither interesting to be in, nor stimulating for the staff working there – two key revenue-killing factors.”
“We took the bar at Holland Hall Hotel back to bare walls and floor, and effectively a blank canvas, and have installed the bar from the Bay Malton and created instant character,” added Kenyon, who acquired the Upholland hotel last year.
“Holland Hall dates back centuries – so modern was out of the question. Long story short, we eventually found what we wanted in the Bay Malton, which had closed down, bought its entire bar, including the bar counter itself, shelves, stained glass partitions, the lot, and installed it. We then introduced curios and talking-point features and furniture.
“The result was an instantly genuine and authentic character hotel bar. And we have high-quality and great value beers on tap, as well as a pub food menu designed to get people coming back for more.”
The Bay Malton on Seamons Road had initially been turned into a community asset after closure a couple of years ago, meaning that residents had the right to purchase the building and run it as a community pub.
But after the community failed to take ownership, the plot was opened up and sold to a private buyer and is now being converted into residential.
