What went wrong for Guy's Thatched Hamlet?

A major loss for the hospitality sector - but has a buyer been found?

Hello and welcome to The Lancashire Lead.

We report today on the closure of Guy’s Thatched Hamlet - a place where many people have made memories. If readers are to be believed, it’s also a place where people liked to break their wedding vows. What’s wrong with a Premier Inn?

Its closure leads to a number of questions, most pertinently - what happens next given it has been for sale for approximately 12 months? Has a buyer been found? Will it continue to be hospitality focused?

And, because social media is going to be social media, who can we blame?

Lancashire briefing

🌹 Lancashire needs to “shout” with a more collective voice about its potential in order to ensure it gets the government and private sector backing needed to realise it. That is the message from one of the county’s MPs, who is chairing a forum that brings together all of her parliamentary colleagues to promote Lancashire to those in – and with – power. Ribble Valley’s Labour MP Maya Ellis is heading the Lancashire All-Party Parliamentary Group, which has been reformed after a four-year hiatus. The aim is for the 16 county representatives who have a place in the Commons to work as one in order to help attract investment, boost growth and improve infrastructure. Ms. Ellis, who won her seat at the last general election, said that Lancashire has plenty of strengths that it can trade on, but could benefit from harnessing an overarching vision of the county’s capabilities.

🏠 More than 200 ‘much-needed’ new homes could be built on farmland bordering Ormskirk near the town’s hospital, if a new plan is approved. But some people say it raises issues about the impact on traffic, woodland and local farming, and conflicts with a council plan for West Lancashire’s future development. Applicant Bloor Homes North West wants outline planning permission for up to 220 houses on land behind numbers 6-32 Crosshall Brow. The developer says the plan would provide much-needed houses and insists the land was previously seen as a suitable site for homes and should be looked at once again. The outline plan has now been sent to West Lancashire Council, including details about site access, the land, local Ormskirk architecture and artist’s impressions of the types of houses built elsewhere by Bloor. But details on specific house designs and layout for this site would come in future.

🗳️ The leader of Burnley Council has criticised his opposition counterpart after his revelation of the identity of the senior councillor reprimanded over failing to properly declare financial interests. Burnley Independent Group boss Cllr Afrasiab Anwar spoke out after Labour’s Cllr Mark Townsend posted on Facebook that it was Cllr Lubna Khan, executive member for economy and growth. Cllr Townsend’s post followed his successfully challenging a Freedom of Information (FOI) request ruling that he could not disclose the councillor’s identity. Cllr Townsend raised the issue of Cllr Khan’s identity at a Burnley Full Council meeting last year as it debated a report from its Audit and Standards Committee. He highlighted a separate report from it in November, which said that following a September 2024 complaint about an unnamed councillor’s declaration of interests, an investigation found five out of eight complaints upheld, adding: “Member has rectified the situation and apologised.”

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What went wrong for Guy’s Thatched Hamlet?

Guy’s Thatched Hamlet from above

By Luke Beardsworth

An iconic Lancashire attraction has closed its doors - with a ‘period of transition’ only hinting at what is going to come next.

Guy’s Thatched Hamlet, including Guy’s Eating Establishment, the canalside tavern, the lodge and cricket and bowling green announced its closure on Monday (2 February).

The closure did not come as an enormous surprise given the complex was put up for sale in February 2025 - but it leaves the future of the site in doubt.

A statement posted on the doors of the venue by Kirk Wilkinson, director of Guy’s Eating Establishment’s Limited, said: “After 46 years of trading, we can confirm that Guy’s Thatched Hamlet has now closed.

“This has been a difficult decision and one made with considerable thought.

“We would like to sincerely thank our customers, staff and suppliers for their loyalty and support over the years.

“The hamlet has meant a great deal to many people, and as it moves through a period of transition, our focus is on bringing this chapter to close.”

Cat Smith, MP for Lancaster and Wyre, told The Lancashire Lead: “It is sad to see an era end at Guy’s Thatched Hamlet, but it reinforces why the Government’s mission to deliver long-term economic growth is so vital. By moving towards a more stable economy, the foundations are being laid for local hospitality to once again flourish.

“We are already seeing this through the Government’s recent support package for the sector, including the 15 per cent business rates relief and the permanent commitment to lower taxes on draught pints, which ensures our local pubs and venues can remain at the heart of the community.

“While this is a difficult time for the staff involved, the national focus on revitalising our high streets offers a path toward a more resilient and prosperous future for our local business landscape.”

The Lancashire Lead has investigated suggestions that a buyer has been bought and reached out to a number of parties linked to Guy’s Thatched Hamlet, as well as the agent responsible for marketing the site.