Old pub crushed by the pandemic will be transformed into flats and a shop

A pub that served its last pint in 2023 will be transformed into flats with a shop on the ground floor.

The Pit Stop in Denton, known as the Bowling Green under previous management, closed its doors almost two years ago. A number of different tenants took over the Manchester Road site in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, but it never fully recovered.

The developers, Initiatives Design Ltd, now want to convert the pub into residential accommodation on behalf of the owners – Mr and Mrs Klein. 

The proposal, approved by Tameside Council, would see four one-bedroom apartments built on the first floor with a retail unit on the ground floor. Five parking spaces will be available at the back of the building.

The developers feel the building is ‘no longer viable’ as a pub, which sparked their decision to convert the premises. They explained that changes of consumer habits and rising utility costs were the reasons why the pub could no longer be a success.

Planning papers read: “The Bowling Green, now known as The Pit Stop, was acquired by the applicant in 2010 and leased to their first tenant in July of that year. Since then there has been in excess of 12 separate tenants and each and everyone has had difficulty in developing a successful pub business. 

“The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in the closure of the premises for an extended period, further exacerbated all these difficulties and consumer habits also shifted towards drinking at home.

“In addition to the problems caused by the pandemic, a significant increase in utility costs and increased beer prices have made it even more difficult to operate this property as a public house.

“Given the significant time and investment that the applicant has made in the property, it is now felt best to create a more successful and sustainable opportunity for the local area.

“Over the years this Public House has also been subject to several noise, anti-social and criminal events. This proposed change of use and the conversion of the building would negate any such events in the future.”