Popular hotel and restaurant forced to close due to 'ridiculous' rise in utility bills from 'greedy' energy firms

A popular hotel and restaurant has announced it will be closing its doors due to the 'ridiculous' rise in utility bills from 'greedy' energy firms. The Albany, in Heywood, confirmed it will be shutting for the final time today (Sunday, June 26).

The venue, on Rochdale Road East, functions as both a hotel and a pub and restaurant named The Orchard. However, following the cost of living crisis and energy bills hiking more than ever before, it sadly announced via social media it would be closing due to 'circumstances out of our control'.

The post cited the 'ridiculous' rise in utility bills from 'greedy' energy firms as the reason for its demise, as it went on to urge the people living in the town to continue supporting independent businesses, which would be a 'massive loss to a lot of people'.

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Ten days before its scheduled closure, on June 16, the venue shared an initial Facebook post which thanked customers for years of support. It read: "With the heaviest of hearts and due to circumstances completely out of our control The Albany will be closing its doors on the 26th June for the final time!

"Customers, old and new, please join us over the next 10 days celebrating what has been an amazing place to socialise, dance, sing, drink and for the amazing team, to work! Heywood won’t be the same without The Albany!"

A day later, on June 17, the Albany then took to Facebook once again, to announce the true reason for its closure, and to dispel rumours it was being sold off to become converted flats. The post, which called out 'greedy energy providers', saw an outpouring of support from regular customers

The post, which had hundreds of shares,