Residents in Cheshire have been left ‘bemused’ by the rebrand of a local village pub.
The Red Lion in Goostrey has been saved by the Cheshire Pub Company, who will transform the boozer with a ‘cool new concept’.
The company has picked a space-age name as a nod to the pub’s proximity to Jodrell Bank observatory, and not everyone is happy about it.
After its makeover this summer, The Red Lion will reopen as The Space Invader.
The news was announced on Facebook with a post that said: “Mission accepted. Cheshire Pub Company can officially announce that they will be landing in the village of Goostrey this Autumn.
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The Red Lion will reopen as The Space Invader this year. Credit: Google Maps
“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 will remain a traditional village pub, the cool, new concept will pay homage to the area’s heritage whilst delivering on excellent service, great food, and good times.”
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One local said the new name was ‘cheap and ridiculous’ while another said it was ‘an absolutely stupid name’.
They wrote: “I think its great that the pub is having a refresh…….but the name change sounds cheap and ridiculous and not in keeping with the village. The Red Lion has been a part of Goostrey all my life! Everyone I have just mentioned it to thinks your choice is wrong.”
Another said of The Space Invader name: “Sounds to me like it’s a brain storming session gone mad and the CEO of the Cheshire Pub Company who obviously spent to much time as a kid holidaying in Blackpool got his life long dream of naming a pub after his favourite holiday past time. It’s a village pub for **** sake (Crazy).”
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One asked: “Great that there’s going to be a refurbishment but surely a better name could be thought of if they want a local link why not just call it …The Lovell or Bar 1957 the date the Telescope was completed.”
In the comments on Facebook, someone said: “Very excited about the refurb totally bemused about the name really not a great choice and judging by the feedback on here I’m not alone in my thoughts.”
But several people pointed out the positive news that the pub was being saved and would remain as a community village pub.
Someone said: “Pleased that the pub is being renovated and will still exist as such. I guess that the name is a link with Jodrell Bank. Good idea! What’s in a name? A well run pub with good food, parking and a space for children to play will do well in my opinion!”
Another said: “I do find it amusing how revved up people are getting about the name. The pub has been saved from being turned into a house or an office!!! The village still has this pub!!! Come on guys, chill out a bit, the name can be changed at any time but if it became a private dwelling that would be almost irreversible.”
The Cheshire Pub Co. said in a statement to the Manchester Evening News: “There is no doubt the name has caused controversy amongst the locals of Goostrey, yet Cheshire Pub Co. ensure that the new name was carefully, and respectfully chosen to link to the Jodrell Bank Observatory, and it’s founder Sir Bernard Lovell – The (ultimate) Space Invader.
“The Space Invader is so much more than a name, it’s a moment in time, an escapism, a satisfaction, and most importantly an element of fun to stand out, and remind us that positive change in the right direction is not only important, it’s necessary. The pub will deliver a respectful, modern take on a classic memory, whilst preserving the former memory and traditions of The Red Lion.
“Whether a classic memory for you is a traditional family dish, an old book, a classic video game, fond film or a favourite place, we will endeavour to recreate those feelings of nostalgia, and grant more heart-warming moments again and again, because that’s just what we do.”
Featured image: The Cheshire Pub Co
Cheshire
Harry Styles mural unveiled at Cheshire railway station to welcome fans to his hometown
Emily Sergeant
A mural of Harry Styles has been unveiled at a railway station in Cheshire to welcome fans to his hometown.
The pop megastar and former One Direction member, turned actor, grew up in the picturesque Cheshire village of Holmes Chapel, and in recent years – most notably around the time of the 2022 Manchester dates on his world tour, Love On Tour – the village has become a popular place for visiting fans keen to see where Styles spent his younger years.
The gates of his high school and the bakery where he used to work are just a couple of the locations that Harry Styles fans like to visit when they’re around his neck of the woods.
Holmes Chapel has very much lent into the novelty of being a tourist hotspot, and nothing proves that more than the fact the village’s railway station has now unveiled a brand-new mural featuring the singer-songwriter in all his glory.
Unveiling of the new @Harry_Styles mural at Holmes Chapel station this morning.
The sun was shining and it was a great turn out from the Holmes Chapel community and Harry fans.
The new artwork depicts the 31-year-old donning one of his many famous flamboyant outfits – a yellow tweed-style blazer, with a pink feather bower around his neck.
The stunning tribute was created by local artists Eamonn Murphy and Victoria Holland, and is one of several to be installed at the station that celebrate the village and the surrounding areas, with Styles featuring alongside local landmarks such as St Luke’s Church and Hermitage Bridge.
“Artwork that pays tribute to a local area, or in this case, a very famous former resident, is always a welcome addition to a station,” commented Craig Harrop, who is the regional director for Northern.
Image shows artwork at Holmes Chapel station / Credit: Northern
“This new artwork adds to the station’s personality and charm and will no doubt prove very popular with Harry Styles fans visiting the village.”
Peter Whiers, who is the chair of Holmes Chapel Partnership that led on the creation of the artwork, added: “Eamonn and Victoria are both incredibly talented local artists and we are delighted with how they have brought our vision for this mural to life.
“This new installation not only honours Harry Styles and the impact his global success has had on our community but also enhances the station and creates a colourful new welcome to the village.”
Featured Image – Northern
Cheshire
Murder of transgender teen Brianna Ghey to be explored in ’emotional’ new ITV documentary
Emily Sergeant
The murder of transgender teen Brianna Ghey is set to be explored in an ’emotional’ new ITV documentary.
The 16-year-old from Warrington was brutally stabbed to death in a Culcheth park in February 2023 by Scarlett Jenkinson, her so-called friend of just 10 weeks, and Eddie Ratcliffe, a boy she had never even met.
The shockingly horrific incident prompted widespread public condemnation, not just in the UK but across the world.
Since Brianna’s death, her mother Esther Ghey has become a campaigner for genuine change.
Now, in this powerful upcoming 75-minute documentary film – which currently has the working title of Brianna, and is set to have its air date announced in due course – Brianna’s mother speaks in depth for the first time about her “beautiful daughter” and how the devastating loss has driven her campaign work.
Esther Ghey, featuring in the upcoming ITV documentary Brianna / Credit: ITV
The programme will feature exclusive interviews with friends and family, plus murder detectives who will reveal for the first time how they quickly built up their case to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Cheshire Police has given ITV exclusive access to their investigation for the documentary, including evidence and custody suite interviews with the two killers.
The documentary isn’t just about her tragic death though, it’s also about her life.
Brianna’s upbringing in Warrington will be explored through interviews with her close friends, who have never spoken before, where they speak for the first time about the “wonderful” and “amazing” person Brianna was, as well as her trans journey.
Brianna Ghey was brutally murdered back in February 2023 / Credit: Cheshire Police
In more ‘deeply personal’ conversations, Esther also discusses her ongoing campaign to make the UK safer for children, including her calling for a public inquiry into peer-on-peer violence, why it’s on the rise, and what can be done to stop it from escalating further amid the growing mental health crisis among young people.
She also used the documentary to look at whether the impact of social media is making children harm themselves or others.
“I took part in this amazing documentary as a way to ensure that my family’s story was told truthfully, and people could get to know Brianna the way we did,” Esther commented ahead of the show’s release later this year.
Daisy Jackson -
1st August 2022 
