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
Erling Haaland dresses up as Santa and hands out Christmas presents in Greater Manchester
Danny Jones
Manchester City star Erling Haaland has doubled as Father Christmas in his latest YouTube stunt, dressing up as Santa and handing out presents to local kids in the new episode.
We’re starting to think he might be one of the most likeable footballers on the planet right now.
The Norwegian footballer recently surpassed Alan Shearer’s ‘fastest to 100 goals record’ in the Premier League and has been well and truly back to his best as Man City continue to rediscover their form, but the big blonde number nine has been delighting both on and off the pitch of late.
For starters, even before any of the season’s givings began, we got the giggle just from our first glimpse of the thumbnail.
Yes, Haaland definitely has a habit of leaning into the humorous side of his celebrity status, having already dressed up as the Joker for Halloween in one of the first episodes published on his still relatively new YouTube channel.
However, the 25-year-old got up to some more heartwarming activities this time around, swapping the face paint, green wig and stripey suit for a red coat, hat, some little glasses and a big white beard.
With the video itself showing him getting into character and loading his car with a sack full of presents, he then goes on to visit multiple houses to dish out the surprise gifts.
While the title and description state that he drove around the streets of 0161, it’s hard to tell where exactly he went, but we’d guess it was more around Alderley Edge and/or the Cheshire side of the Greater Manchester borders.
One particular interaction between the disguised Blue and a young Red certainly produced a harmless little bit of comedy…
Either way, on the whole, this particular instalment was more wholesome than it was funny, and it’s always nice to see sports personalities and famous people spreading kindness.
Obviously, not everyone can afford to be as generous as a Premier League and world-famous international athlete, but it’s nevertheless a nice touch.
Featured Images — Erling Haaland (screenshots via YouTube)
Cheshire
A Manchester-based runner has broken an ultramarathon record by running across the desert
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester has a growing obsession with running and endurance events, in particular, did you hear about a locally based runner who’s set the record for legging it across a literal desert?
That’s some ‘Hardest Geezer’ stuff right there.
Yes, whether it’s the likes of the Great MCR Run and October Half, the fully fledged Manchester Marathon, or dare we say it, an extra hard ultra, the region seems to be absolutely chock-full of runners and events these days.
That being said, despite being inspired by countless individuals over the past few years, the feat that has impressed us most this year is the incredible achievement by one man: Alex Welch from Wilmslow.
We’re pretty sure this is the bloke The Pretenders must have been talking about.
Based right here in 0161, by day Alex Welch is employed as a senior cyber security sales specialist at a major European IT services company, SCC, over in Stretford.
However, by both day and night for a full working week late last month, the 29-year-old swapped his computers for a very sturdy pair of running trainers; trail shoes, to be specific, as he trekked across the Namib Desert in Africa.
Stretching more than 2,000 kilometres in total, spanning the reaches of Angola, Namibia and parts of South Africa, the talented distance runner ran approximately 12.5% of that entire landmass over the course of five days.
Broken up into five stages – 50km, 50k, 42k and 22k, as well as a truly brutal 92k day to finish – not only did the indefinable Cheshire-born bloke reach the finish line, but he did so in record time.
Let’s be honest, anyone challenging themselves with the course is clearly an absolute machine, but as seen above and now fully verified, Alex here did so in 24 hours and 27 minutes.
Taking just over a day to complete the entire thing, Alex led every beating everyone else in every single stage and ended up surpassing legendary American ultra runner and now race director Adam Kimble’s time from 2018 by almost 40 whole minutes. Utterly staggering stuff.
Signing up as an official OOSH-sponsored athlete for the event, having only just podiumed at the Ice Ultra round the Arctic Circle back in February, AND the Mountain Ultra across Kyrgyzstan this past June, he’s quite literally ‘endured blistering cold and scorching desert’ (one for Shrek 2 fans, there).
Commenting on the unbelievable achievement, the local lad said: “Namibia was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. The heat was on another level, and every stage demanded absolute focus. To come away with the win – and a course record – is overwhelming.
“After the Arctic and Kyrgyzstan, this was the challenge I had been building towards all season. I’m grateful for everyone who has supported me, particularly my colleagues at SCC who have backed me every step of the way.”
Well done, Alex – we’re off to have a lie down because we’re tired just thinking about what you’ve just done, so hope you’ve at least got a few weeks of relaxation and victory pints lined up. That’s how we toasted our taste of an ultra, anyway…
Daisy Jackson -
1st August 2022 
