Pub closures ...restaurants opening

Still I suppose the buildings are being put to use and creating employment Charly.

The Blue Ball in Norden is being converted to a restaurant as well. It will be called The Norden Arms. It looks like they will have to sell a good few meals to pay for all the work being done. I'll be giving it a try out when it opens.

I was watching out for it UTD. Passed it a few times in recent weeks. Still better the building put to use than seeing it boarded up like some of the pubs in recent times. I hope the new owners get better luck than some of the pubs at present.

Yes Charly but Littleborough does seem to attract business better than Rochdale as a whole. I think they have a better community over there.

Times change and we move on. It is to be hoped that these new restaurants/hostelries have secured an open corner somewhere so we can slink off and clandestinely have a quick drag. If not . I won't be going in them.

Charly wrote:Yes, I'm pleased to see new businesses opening up and although I probably wont be using them personally (prefer Indian) I wish them well and its good to see Littleborough getting more choice of restaurants.

I agree with you on that Charly have you been to the Green Door very nice but a bit pricey

I was up at the Green Door a couple of weeks back. It was a party of 20 (!) for a birthday. Took a bit of time to get seated, but that's understandable as it's not the biggest of places. The staff were really helpful and we even got the chef out from the kitchen to have a chat with us about the food. The food itself was really good, possibly some of the best I've had around Rochdale. Like some posters have said it is a bit pricey, but as a treat I think it's worth it. I'd recommend it highly.

In an amost related manner, does anyone have any photographs of the Two Ships Hotel on Hope Street (which the internet says became the Tap & Spile for a time in the early 90s). I know the building is still there but I've got a friend who's after any details of what the pub signage was like.

Hope to see you there Dalelad!

In a recent poll held on the LittleboroughLocal Facebook page, The Green Door and The Rake Tapas were neck-and-neck as the best Littleborough restaurant. The Waterside came third.

It is great that new businesses are opening up and new uses are found for these buildings - pubs face a tremendous struggle competing with cheap supermarket prices and home sky TV!

I hope Don Paolos does well. I wish them luck.