A MUCH-LOVED pub that became a familiar Mossley landmark is to be de-licensed as it has ‘no long-term sustainable future.’
The Best O’Brass, on Manchester Road, poured its final pint on February 3 because of rising bills and costs.
Now it is highly likely it will not open again as a hostelry after owners Admiral Taverns placed the building up for sale.
And according to documents with agents Everard Cole: “This property is to be sold de-licensed for alternative use.”
When approached by The Correspondent, Admiral – who initially marketed it as a pub to be taken on – admitted the lack of commercial interest made their mind up to put it on the market for £195,000.
They said: “We are strong believers in the importance of community pubs and our focus is always on helping our licensees to run sustainable pub businesses.
“After careful consideration however, we felt in this instance that the Best O’ Brass did not have a long-term sustainable future and therefore we’ve taken the decision to put the pub up for sale.”
The building, which stands at the junction with Waggon Road, is described as: “A stone-built end terrace property extending to two storeys under a pitched stone roof.”
And when it closed as a pub, landlord Kyle Clayton told The Correspondent: “This isn’t the end for us by any means, we have things in the background bubbling away.
“I will still fight to buy the building and there could be another pub venture to follow.
“This was one of the hardest decisions to make as I put everything I had into the place to make it work.”
What was it called before the name change to Best o Brass?
Railway I think.
What isn’t said here is that Admiral Taverns have a non-negotiable condition in the sale that whoever buys it cannot have it as a pub again.
Having an interest in running pubs I had made enquiries in order to buy it and run it as a free house.
As with most pubs tied to companies like Admiral Taverns, they aren’t sustainable because of the excessive mark-ups on products which the tenant is charged.