The Bollington Brewing Co. has confirmed its first pub, The Vale Inn, will close permanently this year after serving the Bollington community since it reopened in March 2005 (about 21 years). Owners Lee and Kirsten Wainwright announced on 29 January 2026 that the pub on Adlington Road will stop trading by the end of March, citing rising operational costs and the expiry of a long-term lease.
The Vale Inn first reopened under the current owners in March 2005 and became a well-known local venue in the area often called the “Happy Valley.” It was the original home of the brewery until the business moved its main production to a larger site at Brook Mill in Macclesfield in 2024.
About 10–15 full- and part-time staff are affected by the closure. The owners say they plan to support affected employees and offer many roles at the company’s other sites, including the Brook Mill taproom in Macclesfield and The Park Tavern.
Companies House records show Bollington Brewing Co. Ltd was incorporated on 30 July 2008 and is now registered at Brook Mill, Parker Street, Macclesfield. The owners said the costs of maintaining two ageing, historic buildings had become unsustainable alongside the company’s larger Macclesfield operations.
The Vale Inn has been a regular feature of CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide for many years; the pub’s own website says it has been included every year since 2007. While the Bollington site will close, Bollington Brewing Co. will continue to operate its newer brewery and bar in Macclesfield, a move first reported in local coverage when the company relocated production to Brook Mill in 2024.
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