- The Witchwood
The Witchwood is a
public house and live venue situated inAshton-under-Lyne , a town inGreater Manchester ,England . The venue is well known locally and its fame even stretches both nationally and internationally.The building is divided in two, with the 'front bar', which is a typical public house, and the live venue at the rear, where entry is usually subject to a fee.Fact|date=June 2007 As well as being a live venue, the rear also plays host to weekly and occasional clubnights.Fact|date=June 2007 The live venue has a capacity of 200.Fact|date=June 2007
Bands that have played at the venue include
Lostprophets , Muse,The Coral ,cite web |title=Save The Witchwood |url=http://www.tamesideadvertiser.co.uk/news/s/519981_save_the_witchwood_ |author=Sue Carr |publisher=TamesideAdvertiser.co.uk |date=2006-11-15 |accessdate=2008-04-26]Oceansize ,JJ72 , Cooper Temple Clause and Amplifier.The pub prides itself on serving
real ale , with many guest ales appearing regularly.Fact|date=June 2007In 2004,
Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council served a compulsory purchase order on The Witchwood as plans for the regeneration of the surrounding area required the building to be removed.cite web |title=Witchwood joy after deal struck to save it |url=http://www.tamesideadvertiser.co.uk/news/s/384790_witchwood_joy_after_deal_struck_to_save_it |publisher=TamesideAdvertiser.co.uk |date=2004-04-29 |accessdate=2008-04-26] After a campaign to save The Witchwood, supported by regular customers, local amateur musicians, businesses and live venues, live music fans from across the country, Ask Developments – the company regenerating the surrounding area – agreed that The Witchwood would not be demolished on condition that "the exterior would be re-rendered and new windows put in". The campaign to save The Witchwood was lead byTom Hingley and was supported by musicians such asBert Jansch , The Fall, andThe Chameleons . [cite web |title=Party as stars' pub is saved |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/143/143670_party_as_stars_pub_is_saved.html |author=Don Frame |publisher=Manchester Evening News |date=2005-01-24 |accessdate=2008-04-29]In August 2007 the future of the Witchwood was finally secured when it was bought by Manchester entrepreneur Mike Royce, the owner of FAB CAFE the famous cult television and movie theme bar, and the Satans Hollow rock venue.
References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
