A popular independent brewery bar in Bolton has introduced a ‘no mask, no entry’ policy after encountering problems with numerous punters attempting to gain entry saying they are exempt over the Bank Holiday weekend.
As the sun shone and the temperatures soared, people right across Greater Manchester headed to their locals to make the most of it, but Blackedge Brewing Company – which was founded 12 years ago by Managing Director Wayne Roper, and operates the Blackedge Brewery Bar in the Horwich area of Bolton – was forced to issue a statement on social media yesterday regarding its mask policy.
The bar said the policy was needed to “keep staff and customers safe”.
The statement read: “It is with regret we have to make this announcement however but with immediate effect we will be operating a no mask, no entry policy.
“If you are exempt, then please download the card and simply show us on entry.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We apologise to the genuinely medically exempt for the inconvenience but we must keep staff and customers safe.”
The venue issued a statement via social media / Credit: Facebook (Blackedge Brewing Company Ltd)
Providing more clarity as to why the decision has been taken to implement the policy, the Blackedge Brewing Company added: “The reason we must operate this policy is the sheer number of groups of people that have visited late during the weekend who were all ‘exempt’ from wearing a mask.
ADVERTISEMENT
“COVID is exploding in Bolton so the risk level is high.
“We will be fined £5,000 if checked and found to be breaking the law… People who try to enter the premises and don’t follow the rules set out by actual law will not be served and asked to leave.”
The company also said it will have a “zero tolerance policy” on abuse towards staff – which it said “sadly has happened” – and all incidents as such will be reported to the local pubwatch scheme so that people who become abusive “could face bans from all the local member pubs and bars”.
ADVERTISEMENT
“This is not difficult folks, wear a mask, sit down at all times when drinking and be nice to all the people you encounter in your day / night out.” the statement continued.
The company also said it will have a “zero tolerance policy” on abuse towards staff / Credit: Credit: Facebook (Blackedge Brewing Company Ltd)
“We don’t wish to cause embarrassment to anyone with a genuine exemption.
“To those that just couldn’t care less, it would be good that they know in advance they are not welcome to visit us at this time.”
The award-winning Horwich town centre bar has already made headlines this year, announcing in April that it would be stopping taking bookings for its outdoor drinking terrace after a significant amount of no-shows since reopening.
Featured Image – Blackedge Brewing Company Ltd
UK News
Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua fight FINALLY booked
Danny Jones
It seems like it’s official: Tyson Fury is finally set to fight Anthony Joshua – and it sounds like it’s happening this year.
Put it this way, it better be worth all the hype after all this time.
Arguably one of the most anticipated all-British bouts of the last few decades, the boxing match between Fury and Joshua is one that fight fans, and even those only occasionally interested in the sport, have been waiting to be booked for ages.
It got to a point where we almost started to think we’d never get to see it come to fruition whatsoever, but now promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed that it’s all locked in.
As you can see, putting things in the simplest terms possible, the Matchroom Boxing boss said on social media: “Signed, sealed, delivered! AJ v Fury is on!”
This comes after a previous post, in which he wrote: “The biggest piece of business we’ve ever done, but more importantly, the one we’ve always wanted.
“Biggest year of AJ’s career coming up, the comeback is on.”
Tagging the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority (GEA) and co-founder of Zuffa Boxing, Turki Al-Sheikh, the government official looks to have recently held a major event in which he hosted several big sporting names.
It was already heavily expected that any potential clash would take place in the Middle East, and it now looks like nailed on that it will be part of the country’s annual ‘Riyadh Season’.
Although things have been relatively tight-lipped on Fury‘s side, ‘The Gypsy King’ did share a little reaction of his own online…
Still more of a teaser on his end than full verification, we hope they’re not going to lead us down the garden path on this one; boxing heads have waited long enough for this one.
The 37-year-old Manchester-born boxer returned to the ring after yet ANOTHER ‘retirement’ earlier this month, winning comfortably against Arslanbek Makhmudov.
Meanwhile, Joshua, now 36, will be making his own comeback of sorts against Kristian Prenga on July 25 – this will also be taking place in Riyadh.
Featured Images — Netflix (screenshots via YouTube)
UK News
Claire’s is closing down stores in the UK and Ireland with more than 1,300 jobs set to be lost
Danny Jones
In another hit to domestic shoppers, Claire’s Accessories is closing down en masse across the UK and Ireland after entering into administration once again.
Falling into an unfortunate financial status for the second time in less than a year, Claire’s will be shutting down all of their standalone stores across Britain, along with their IE branches.
A total of 154 stores will soon disappear, with more than a thousand people set to be put out of work.
Once a mainstay of British high streets up and down the country, the accessory shop known for all things jewellery, piercings and more has ceased trading effective immediately.
Announced at the start of the week and the end of the first full month of Q2, it was confirmed that Claire’s closed their final locations on Monday, 27 April.
With administrators, Kroll, appointed to wrap up business proceedings, an estimated 1,300 English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh workers have now lost their jobs.
Founded way back in 1961 over in the United States, Claire’s has operated across the Atlantic for more than three decades.
However, with various other contemporaries and cheaper online options having appeared over the years, they’ve struggled not just to remain profitable but to compete full stop.
They most recently filed for bankruptcy in the US this past August (2025), with their Belgian, Spanish, and Dutch divisions having already called it quits.
Manchester location(s) have changed a lot over time, but now they’re on the way out (Credit: Arndale)
For many, the outcome isn’t all that surprising, but it will nevertheless be a sad loss for many who have seen multiple generations visit these venues over the years.
The Manc -
1st June 2021 
