Liberty’s Gin Bar on Common Lane, Culcheth, is being put up for sale as its owners prepare for retirement. They say the decision has been made “with a heavy heart”, which is entirely understandable after building one of the village’s best-known evening venues.
The bar was awarded Pub of the Season by the North Cheshire branch of the Campaign for Real Ale in October 2021, a deserved bit of recognition for a place that has offered considerably more than a quiet gin and tonic. It also welcomed professional boxer and former Love Island finalist Tommy Fury last month, proving that Culcheth’s nightlife can occasionally attract names beyond the usual crowd of familiar faces.
According to the owners, Liberty’s is a successful, award-winning, free-of-tie business with the latest licence in the village, allowing it to open until 3am. That is impressive, although whether the rest of Culcheth considers 3am a selling point or a personal attack on its sleep schedule may depend on which side of Common Lane you live on.
The premises are effectively two venues in one. Upstairs, there is a private-hire space for around 150 people, featuring a large dance floor, DJ booth, fully equipped bar and booth seating. Double doors lead to a mezzanine with additional seating, a large VIP area and a pool table.
There is also a projection screen, numerous televisions and separate ladies’ and gents’ toilets. Downstairs offers another bar, a fully fitted commercial kitchen with a five-star rating, further toilets, another DJ booth and a log burner. Four televisions and a large projection screen regularly show Sky Sports, making it a fairly comprehensive package for parties, sporting events and the inevitable debate over who gets control of the music.
The owners say the venue has “huge potential to progress even further”. That may well be true, though any new proprietor will have to balance the bar’s late-night appeal with the practical realities of running a busy village venue. Still, the combination of established trade, strong facilities and a recognisable name gives Liberty’s a much better starting point than many businesses entering the market.
Reasonable offers will be considered. Further information is available via [email protected].