Big Lock, Middlewich

Subject: Big Lock, Middlewich
From: GUEST,Mally
Date: 03 Jul 11 - 06:27 PM

Sad news, the Big Lock, Middlewich, which so many you will know has hosted some amazing music sessions in the past, has changed hands, and the new management seem to be music-unfriendly. The regular monthly 1st-Sunday-of-the-month music session these evening had to be terminated early at the request of the new management. Enough said!

Subject: RE: Big Lock, Middlewich
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Jul 11 - 06:27 PM

*this evening

Subject: RE: Big Lock, Middlewich
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 03 Jul 11 - 08:07 PM

That's a real shame. Middlewich needs all the music friendly pubs it can get just at the moment.

Subject: RE: Big Lock, Middlewich
From: Richard from Liverpool
Date: 03 Jul 11 - 08:20 PM

I don't know much about Middlewich, to be honest (although we have some family friends there), but I'm still curious; what's the logic behind this? Or was no reason given?

Subject: RE: Big Lock, Middlewich
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 03 Jul 11 - 08:22 PM

But haven't we heard this sorry tale so many times from different parts of the country? New management takes over pub and finds folkies in residence. Decides said folkies are 'putting off' potential customers and turfs them out. Takings fall. Management thinks again, but it's too late. Folkies have moved on to pastures new. That seems to be the general pattern, at any rate. Speaking personally, I'm not a big session fan, but each to his/her own.

Subject: RE: Big Lock, Middlewich
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Jul 11 - 08:42 PM

What happened? Well normally the music session goes on until 11:30 - 12:00 or sometimes even later but tonight there were new management in the pub and they said "could you please finish at 11?"... but at 10:35 they said "10 more minutes, then we want to close up". It was quite a shock, particularly after the friendly and welcoming attitude of the previous management, who really could not be faulted. Anyway, tonightk people including myself had just bought a drink (no warning there of the impending ejection!), and in any case they had already agreed 11 with the organiser. It's a real shame, everyone in the session was having a good time and providing very good custom to the pub in what would otherwise have been an empty room... but it seems they do not want this business!!! What is also incredible is that somehow they seem to have managed to empty the rest of the pub too... there are normally at least a few people in each room at that time of evening, but tonight they had somehow managed to get rid of all their regular customers and even turned the lights off in all the other rooms, so obviously they're going to be having a rip-roaring trade. Oh, I forgot to mention, they said to the session organiser about not wanting this sort of thing anyway, or words to that effect. Well I wish them every success in their doomed enterprise.

Subject: RE: Big Lock, Middlewich
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 03 Jul 11 - 08:48 PM

Ooo-er! I wonder if they've ever read 'How to win friends and influence people'?

It does make you wonder what is running through such people's minds, though. Did they not do any research prior to taking on the business, to find out what was successful in the pub, and what wasn't?

I foresee another change of management...

Subject: RE: Big Lock, Middlewich
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jul 11 - 05:42 AM

Me too. We should take the opportunity to thank the previous management who were exemplary in every respect when it came to accommodating music sessions etc.

Subject: RE: Big Lock, Middlewich
From: Busy Lizzie
Date: 04 Jul 11 - 07:57 AM

For anyone who might be remotely interested in this you might like to hear it from the horse's mouth - and this horse had just been singing with her band at the the Big Lock before Mally was told it was time to leave - I went to the bar at 10.35 to talk to the landlord and landlady who having said it was ok stay late turned to each other and mumbled about this is not the sort of thing we want here. Didn't realise we were that offensive! I am afraid I didn't like the attitude to us and asked all my friends to leave immediately and that's a pretty sad way to end our relationship with the pub. I asked her to repeat what she'd said - she looked embarrassed and told me that they 'do not want this sort of thing' at the Big Lock thanks.
I cancelled the birthday party I'd booked there for the following week. I suggested that the pub would be empty without the 15 people in last night who wouldn't have been there. 'No' said their teenage son - 'there's 2 people downstairs!' Bravo brainbox!!!
I am sorry they haven't seen a room with 40 musicians of all types playing until the early hours and drinking their beer! And now - who'd like our business - one pub has already offered!
Liz

Subject: RE: Big Lock, Middlewich
From: squeezeboxhp
Date: 05 Jul 11 - 08:03 AM

The Boars Head made us welcome at the F&B festival, good ale and cheap

Subject: RE: Big Lock, Middlewich
From: Busy Lizzie
Date: 06 Jul 11 - 07:28 AM

Boars have offered and we'll let you all now shortly as soon as it's official!

Subject: RE: Big Lock, Middlewich
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 06 Jul 11 - 11:53 AM

Does that mean an amalgamation with the existing BH folk session?

Subject: RE: Big Lock, Middlewich
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 07 Jul 11 - 02:41 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Big Lock, Middlewich
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 07 Jul 11 - 02:58 PM

Any news on the new venue yet?

Subject: RE: Big Lock, Middlewich
From: Mr Happy
Date: 08 Jul 11 - 07:19 AM

............so does this mean the whore's bed's the only folking about venue in Middlewich?

Surely [don't call me Shirley!] there must be loads pubs with noone in who'd welcome a sesh?

Subject: RE: Big Lock, Middlewich
From: GUEST,the big lock... ken & jackie are back
Date: 29 May 13 - 11:53 AM

ive just been reading what happened when we left even thoughwe had heard and couldnt believe it well we're back at the big lock if you hadnt heard and we really miss you guys your welcome back anytime

Subject: RE: Big Lock, Middlewich
From: Bluegrassman
Date: 29 May 13 - 08:00 PM

A review of the Big Lock pub with the original management back in place, sounds good to me....

"Perfection"

5 of 5 stars Reviewed 12 May 2013


It's been a few years since I last visited, the revamp has definitely paid off. I'd no idea that the pub is back in the hands of the previous managers as of march after it closing in January they had run it from 2008-2011. The 2 meals we had were fantastic, it was nice to have home cooked chunky chips rather than frozen. The staff were friendly & attentive. All in all a very pleasant & relaxing Sunday evening. I can honestly say I'm looking forward to my next visit after all I have to try the sticky toffee pudding that was highly recommend to us, we wanted something lighter tonight so had the cheesecake of the week.

Visited May 2013

Subject: RE: Big Lock, Middlewich
From: Jim I
Date: 30 May 13 - 07:48 PM

So what kind of session are we talking about? Is it tunes or songs or a bit of both? And if tunes is it English, Irish, Scottish or a mixture?
(oops. Forgot about American)