The Green Squirrel Haslingden

Pals who bought their local in Haslingden put it up for sale

.8:00pm Monday 4th February 2013 in Haslingden  By Lisa Woodhouse, Education Reporter .

POPULAR pub is set to be sold just 18 months after it was bought by three regulars.

Ben Greenwood, 30, Stephen Sourbutts, 29, and Lindsay McGuire, 31, clubbed together to buy the former Crown pub in Manchester Road, Haslingden, and reopen it as The Green Squirrel in July 2011.

The pub, named after a cricket team the friends used to play in, was at the centre of a dispute last year when neighbours complained about the noise levels particularly on Friday and Saturday nights.

But the three pals insist their decision has nothing to do with it and it was time to move on from their “Men Behaving Badly” lifestyle.

 Stephen said: “Business is doing well, but we’re all of an age now where we want to settle down. Two of us are in serious relationships and are getting a bit of pressure from our partners about getting our own place. At the moment we all live above the pub and it’s like still being at uni. We have our own bedroom, but share a lounge, and kitchen.

“There has been no arguing. It was a mutual decision to put it up for sale. We feel it’s time for us to move on.”

Stephen, a mechanical engineer at Metso, has been with his girlfriend for five years, while Ben, a farrier, has been with his girlfriend Gemma for around two.

..He said he would like to see someone build on the success they have had. “In an ideal world we would like it to go to someone local, ideally a couple, who will be able to give it 100 per cent. However, we would be foolish not to consider all options. The pub means a lot to us. We grew up drinking in here and we have invested a lot of time, money and effort into the business.”