Chorley pub Shepherds Hall Ale House shuts for 10 days due to heatwave as customers flock to beer gardens

A Chorley pub has closed for 10 days due to the heatwave, saying it’s struggling to make a profit as punters flock to other venues with beer gardens.

Shepherds Hall Ale House, next to the bus station, shut on Monday and its doors will remain closed until Thursday, July 2.

“We’re sorry to say that due to the exceptionally hot weather forecasted, Sheps will not be opening this week,” it said in a statement on Facebook.

A notice informing customers of the temporary closure was also found attached to the windows of the Chapel Street venue. Note, the notice included the wrong date for reopening. The pub will reopen on July 2, not June 2.

They said: “Many of you know that summer is a particularly difficult time for us. As an ale house without an outdoor seating area, when the sun comes out people naturally head to beer gardens and outdoor venues.

“We completely understand that—but it does mean that the quieter summer months can be incredibly challenging for businesses like ours.

“The reality is that a small independent pub can’t survive on four months of little to no trade each year. Every customer through our door makes a genuine difference, and your support is what keeps places like Sheps alive.

‘We’re not giving up!”

They added: “We’re not giving up—we’re still here, and we’re determined to keep going—but we need our community behind us. If you’ve been meaning to pop in for a pint, meet friends, or support local businesses, we’d love to see you.

“We’ll be reopening on Thursday 2nd July for our Foodie Thursday Night, with the fantastic Bees Country Kitchen serving up great food alongside your favourite drinks.

“If you can, please come along, bring your friends, and help support a local independent business that wants to be here for many years to come. Every visit, every pint, and every share of this post really does matter.

“Thank you for your continued support—it means more than you know.”