Blackburn town centre pub, the Adelphi, is open again after shutting down recently.
It is being run by Ste and Dianne Whittle, who used to run the Old Dog down the road in Preston. The Whittles have taken over the pub for 3 months on a trial basis with Admiral Taverns, giving both parties a chance to see whether they are happy with the arrangement.
This pub has had a bit of a less than harmonious reputation in the past. But its new management want everybody to feel welcome in their hostelry. Ste has a security business, so safety for customers and staff should be no problem. Music is a feature of the pub, with entertainment on certain days. Singers perform on Wednesday afternoons and there is a disco on Saturday nights. Check the Adelphi Facebook page for further upcoming events.
Grace, who was serving behind the bar, said she was enjoying working in the Adelphi. It felt a bit like working in a local, people were so friendly. Dianne, when asked about catering, said there were no plans to put food on for now, mainly due to all the outlets nearby. But Admiral Taverns are committed to spending money on the pub; hopefully this will include the kitchen.
Despite its past problems, the Adelphi was always known for having good beer and there was a good selection of real ales available on my visit. These included Moorhouse’s Blond Witch, Hobgoblin and Sharp’s Atlantic from Cornwall.
Potentially, the Adelphi could become a goldmine. It is Blackburn’s most central pub and sits in a great location between the railway and bus stations. There is also great potential for shoppers calling in with it being the only open pub adjacent to the transport hubs and Morrison’s superstore.
It was traditionally the meeting point for nights out round Blackburn town centre and could be once again. There’s also the added bonus of a brand new hotel and multi-storey office block across the road. So hopefully, it could be a rosy future for the Adelphi.