'It's lousy': Shock as punters planning to throw final farewell to beloved local pub find it boarded up

A campaigner battling to save a much-loved Greater Manchester boozer has spoken of their anger at the decision to close the venue earlier than scheduled. Earlier this month, it was confirmed that the Greene King-owned Golden Hind in Offerton would be closing its doors for good, despite a passionate community campaign to save it.

Speculation arose online at the end of October that the Golden Hind, a pub described as ‘integral’ to the local community, was due to be sold, with many regulars pleading for the news to be untrue. However, brewer and pub company Greene King confirmed to the Manchester Evening News the following week that it would be closing for good.

Regulars of the Golden Hind, which first opened its doors in 1967, say they were told that the pub would be closed on or after Sunday, November 26. However on Thursday morning (November 23), Tina, one of the pub’s customers, and one of those behind the campaign to save it from closure, was awoken to the news that the kitchen was being ripped out and the pub boarded up.

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She said a farewell party was to be held over the weekend for regulars to say goodbye, while Saturday football matches were due to be shown and entertainment was booked. She called the early closure ‘lousy’ and said it was a ‘massive’ blow to Golden Hind’s loyal customers.

“I was in the pub on Wednesday night so it came as such a shock,” recalled Tina. “I looked around and all the party decorations were up and ready for the weekend.

“But then I received a call on Thursday morning to say they were ripping the kitchen out