It was the heart of its north Manchester estate... now it needs demolishing after 'vandalism by squatters'

A north Manchester pub which was at the centre of its estate needs to be demolished after being ‘vandalised by squatters’.

The Jolly Miller, on Fernclough Road in Harpurhey, is believed to have last opened in 2015; an ill-fated short-term bid to revitalise its fortunes. The establishment is understood to have first closed permanently in late 2013.

After closing, the Jolly Miller was subject to a huge police cordon in 2019, when its ex-landlord ‘locked himself inside and was making threats’, having squatted there since his tenancy finished. A new report says, despite being at the heart of the 1960s-built Jolly Miller estate, the pub has fallen into ‘disrepair’ and ‘dereliction’ since putting the final pint.

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It’s also been blighted by ‘spates of anti-social behaviour and vandalism by squatters’ in that time. Now, Manchester City Council is moving to demolish the watering hole in order to build ‘affordable housing’ in the future, a planning application has revealed.

“The building has been acquired by Manchester City Council following the closure of the public house,” a statement in the application from demolition firm Greenmount Projects said, which also confirmed asbestos needs to be removed from the site.

“The building is derelict and has been subject to squatting and a focal point for anti-social behaviour. Manchester Council now wishes to demolish the building with the intention to use the space for future affordable housing.”

The council hopes to see 36,000 homes built in the decade from 2022 — of which 10,000 need to be affordable, its housing strategy. The authority owns a developer called This City, which is currently