Robinsons Brewery reopens Cheshire pub with new look after 12 month closure

The Swan and Chequers has reinvigorated the Cheshire town of Sandbach after reopening following an extensive refurbishment of the pub by Stockport-based Robinsons Brewery.

The pub has been closed for more than twelve months whilst plans were made to bring a new life into the history-filled site with the local community eager to see what would happen to the much loved pub. The building started out life as an old corn exchange dating back to the late 1800s, and has been owned by the family-run brewers since the early 20th Century.

Commenting on the pub’s reopening, Licensees at the Swan And Chequers, Matt and Jaki Hurst said:

“Our newly refurbished pub/bar was very well received over the weekend! Customers enjoyed our new seating area outside in the sunshine, and we look forward to continued success. It’s been amazing meeting new customers as well as old. We’re also excited to launch our food menu this Thursday, with dishes such as homemade sourdough pizzas, kebabs, smashed burgers, a soft-shell crab burger and 13 small plates to choose from. We can’t wait for everyone to try them!”

The new-look bar at the Cheshire pub now seats 90 people inside, with space for a further 90 outside in the courtyard – the largest outdoor drinking space in Sandbach.

From the curbside, there are some subtle changes, with new outdoor lanterns and wrought iron gates. The original stained glass windows have been refurbished and the projecting hotel sign has also been restored. However, the Victorian-hand-painted signage and traditional gold leaf window lettering give some clues to what lies inside. The interior has been designed with a British mid-century era in mind, paying homage to the site’s earlier links to Winston Churchill’s speech on the balcony in 1945.

In the courtyard, the design team at Robinsons chose to bring history to life with two full wall-length murals. Continuing the mid-century London theme the artwork features an impressive mural of Winston Churchill (pictured above) with his famous quote ‘If you’re going through hell, keep going’.

Joint Managing Director at Robinsons Brewery, William Robinson, commented:

“The company has owned this pub since the early 1900’s. Investing in this innovative and modern design scheme is part of our ongoing commitment to delivering the best pubs for the communities that they serve.”

The refurbishment of the Swan And Chequers in Sandbach is one of three investments by Robinsons Brewery into its Cheshire pub estate to have completed in July 2023.