A family that turned a former greetings card shop into one of Congleton’s most popular watering holes will pulled their last pints recently.
Paul and Linda Plant said it will be a “bittersweet moment” when they call time for good on Sunday at Barley Hops on High Street.
They have run the popular craft ales micro bar for 13 years, having first opened the original Barley Hops on Swan Bank in 2013.
Eight years later they moved to the larger premises where daughter Amy Ikin and husband Joe have run Cocktails on the Corner upstairs.
Barley Hops has been on the market for around a year but the Plants were holding out until the right buyer came along to continue their successful beer adventure.
On Wednesday, the day they announced they were departing, it was also revealed that Knutsford-based Tatton Brewery would be taking over Barley Hops, the company’s first offsite bar. The brewery said it was looking “forward to building on the venue’s existing success”.
In the meantime, the Plants have invited regulars to join them for one last weekend of “everything Barley Hops does best — music, beer, cocktails, dancing, and plenty of laughs”.
Their last day at the bar will be next Sunday, when regular live music acts Daves Like These and Congleton singer Marshal Beard, who has been a regular performer at Barley Hops since 2016, will provide the foot-tapping live music.
As the couple prepared for their penultimate weekend at Barley Hops Mr Plant, (59), said: “We’ve been doing it a long time and we want a change in our lives; we’ve got a two-year-old granddaughter, Marcie, and it will be great to have our weekends back again.”
The couple started selling beer at Christmas markets and fairs in 2011 and opened the original Barley Hops, on the corner of Swan Bank and West Street, as a beer shop with one hand pump, in 2013.
Months earlier, the couple had been invited to take their beers to Congleton Food and Drink Festival, and they sold out of everything.
“It’s the people of Congleton that helped us to make all this,” said Mr Plant as he sat at one of the Barley Hops bar tables.
“We are from Macclesfield originally and we were made welcome in Congleton from the very start.”
When the pandemic struck in 2020 the couple realised something had to change. Mrs Plant, (60), said: “During the pandemic it was clear that the original Barley Hops wasn’t big enough. We were about to close and then we found the premises on High Street and kept on going.”
Around 12 colleagues from the original shop helped the Plants to decorate Barley Hops’ new home along with others from the Congleton community.
When asked about calling it a day Mr Plant said: “It was a tough decision, very bittersweet. But we are looking forward to our new life and spending more time with Marcie. We will be able to socialise a bit too and spend some time with friends. Hospitality is a tough gig and it’s not getting any easier.”
He added: “But we would not have been able to do what we have for the last 13 years without all the people that have helped us along the way. Our last weekend here is going to be very difficult.”
The premises had been on the market for about a year but the couple wanted to make sure it continued as a bar selling craft beers.
“We didn’t want it to become flats or a coffee shop, because it’s what we built and what we’ve been passionate about. We want it to stay as a beer place, that’s what it was built for,” Mr Plant said.
The family announced their departure from Barley Hops on social media, posting that “it’s been one hell of a journey”.
They said: “Along the way, we’ve made lifelong friends and been lucky enough to be part of some of Congleton’s best events — Jazz and Blues, Unplugged, Pride, Food and Drink, and the Christmas lights (switch-on celebrations).
“We’ve loved getting stuck into window displays, hosting everything from hen parties and birthdays to paint nights and baby showers … but more than anything, we’ve loved being part of your lives.”
They added: “Being featured in the Big Beer Guide was a real highlight — something Paul is incredibly proud of and a testament to the care (and stubborn perfectionism!) that went into keeping the beer range fresh, varied and always in top condition.”
The Plants said they had turned down plenty of offers “while we waited for the right fit for the town”.
A spokesperson for Tatton Brewery said: “Tatton Brewery is pleased to announce an exciting new chapter as we expand our presence with the acquisition of The Barley Hops in Congleton.
“This well-regarded venue has built a strong reputation for its carefully curated selection of craft beers and its appeal to dedicated beer enthusiasts.
“This expansion represents a natural progression for Tatton Brewery. Craft beer remains central to our ethos, and The Barley Hops aligns closely with our commitment to quality, variety, and consistency. We look forward to building on the venue’s existing success while introducing elements of Tatton Brewery’s character.”
They added: “The Barley Hops will continue to offer a diverse and high quality range of beers, complemented by new additions and an enhanced customer experience. Our aim is to maintain the welcoming atmosphere customers value while further strengthening the venue’s position within the local hospitality scene.”
It said that after closing next Sunday, Barley Hops would reopen on Friday, 1st May, resuming its usual opening hours (Wednesday-Sunday). These hours will then be reviewed on 7th May.
Tatton Brewery said a full launch of the new bar will be held during Congleton Food and Drink Festival on Sunday, 7th June.
