Stanley Arms pub in Anderton reopens after £90,000 makeover

The Stanley Arms in Anderton closed on September 9 for work to begin on a long-awaited makeover.

After a £90,000 investment from Punch Pubs & Co, all elements of the Stanley Arms, which sits close by to the iconic Anderton Boat Lift, have been transformed.

Overjoyed publican Moira Henderson, affectionately known as 'Mo', was delighted to welcome back customers and show off the changes when it reopened on Friday, October 4.

Mo said: "I’m absolutely over the moon with the changes, we’ve waited a long time for this investment and now it’s happened it was well worth the wait.

"I’ve had a permanent smile on my face since we reopened, the comments and feedback have been overwhelming.

"Everybody is so happy with the changes and I’m happy to be back doing what I do best."

Inside the pub (Image: Punch Pubs & Co) Following the refurbishment, the pub's interior offers a relaxed and calm environment, while 'retaining a traditional feel'.

Wooden ceiling beams have been restored to complementing the rest of the pub, which has been painted in a neutral and sage green palette. 

Other additions to the pub include new lighting and fixtures, 'bold' photographs and ornaments and new flooring throughout.

There's still room for the dartboard (Image: Punch Pubs & Co) The bar and dining areas have both been given a refresh with dark oak tables and stools. while the pub’s brick fireplace has been restored to complement the cosy ambience.

Mo has been at the Stanley Arms for the last six years and has built up a fantastic rapport with the Anderton community.

She added: "The reaction of the community is what keeps me in this job. It’s a challenging industry to be in and it doesn’t come without its bad days, but the good ones outweigh that by far.

The pub also has a beer garden and canal moorings outside (Image: Punch Pubs & Co) "There’s something about working in a pub, it keeps you alive and gives you a buzz. The locals are great, my staff and team are amazing and with our new refurbishment, I’m even more excited to open the doors each morning.”

An executive chef by trade, Mo's natural place in the pub is in the kitchen where, despite the pub's many changes, she will continue to delight guests with her traditional, home-cooked heart dishes such as steak and ale pie, Thai fishcakes, and homemade steak burgers, among various light bites and desserts. 

Mo said: "In this industry, and when you run your own pub business, you have to be flexible, I call myself a jack of all trades.

Publican Mo and her team offer a warm welcome to guests (Image: Punch Pubs & Co) "I start the morning off in the cellar, then I’m behind the bar, and then preparing the kitchen – but I love it.

"No two days are the same in this job, and even when I’ve gone to try something new I’ve always been drawn back into hospitality."

With its proximity to the Anderton Boat Lift, the dog-friendly pub is popular with visiting boaters and has Canal & River Trust moorings for them to use, as well as an impressive beer garden for its guests.

For bookings and more information about the Stanley Arms, visit its Facebook page.