Villagers fuming at 'ridiculous' new name for historic Cheshire pub

An historic pub is being given a new lease of life in a picturesque Cheshire village - but plans to give it a bold new name have left residents fuming. The new owners of The Red Lion pub have announced they plan to rename it "The Space Invader" and have left jaws dropping with the "out there" suggestion.

The Cheshire Pub Company already own a number of acclaimed pubs across the county, including The Frozen Mop at Mobberley, The Churchill Tree at Alderley Park and The Dog at Peover. They have announced on Facebook that they have now bought the The Red Lion, with plans for a major refurbishment and rebrand.

And in announcing the news, they unveiled the new name as The Space Invader - a nod to the nearby Jodrell Bank observatory. But it has sparked a huge reaction from residents who have slammed it as "ridiculous", "waste of space" and "a dreadful name for an old village pub".

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The pub sits right next to St Luke's Church in the pretty village of Goostrey, near Holmes Chapel, which counts famous residents like England and Manchester City star Raheem Sterling and used to be home to Man United star Cristiano Ronaldo. The village is also famous for hosting the annual Goostrey Gooseberry Show where residents compete to grow the biggest berry.

In announcing the takeover news, the Cheshire Pub Company entitled a message on Facebook "mission accepted". It said: "Cheshire Pub Company can officially announce that they will be landing in the village of Goostrey this Autumn. Goostrey’s villlage pub, formerly The Red Lion (as pictured) will undergo a makeover this summer, and will be awarded the new name of The Space Invader.

"While the premises