AFTER standing proud as a community pub for well over a century, this year marks the final Christmas that will be spent at the Swan.
In September 2022, St Helens Council announced plans to enforce a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) on the 160-year-old pub, which would see the Corporation Street venue flattened in place of a new and improved bus station.
The council believes that an improved bus station and the Swan's demolition are necessary parts of the plans to transform St Helens town centre, although the move proved extremely controversial and resulted in a public inquiry.
Despite the thousands of signatures that were added to an online petition to 'Save the Swan', just ten objections were submitted to the public inquiry and the government's planning inspector gave the council's plans the go-ahead.
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'End of an era' for 160-year-old pub
After almost 15 years spent working as the Swan's landlady, Angela Hindley said it is the "end of an era" for the 160-year-old pub, which prides itself on its community atmosphere and close relationship with regulars.
Angela, who lives above the pub with her partner and family, will also need to find a new place to live before the planned demolition begins.
At the Swan's final Christmas party this week, Angela said: "I am feeling very sad about it all because it's the end of an era. It is emotional.
"I've been here for 15 years and some of our regulars have been drinking here for 30, 40, 50 years, so everyone is feeling sad about it.
"I have been working in pubs for 30 years in different parts of the country, but I just feel at home here, and I didn't feel that as much in the other pubs.
"It's a community on its own here, where everyone looks out for each other. I wouldn't even class the people here as customers, they're friends."
To make the most of the time they have left in the pub, Angela hosted the Swan's final Christmas party on Wednesday, December 20, where she organised live entertainment and a free buffet for her loyal customers.
Many of these regulars have been coming into the Corporation Street pub for decades, and they agreed with Angela's claim that the venue has a real community atmosphere.
Devastated by the thought of their regular pub being flattened, some even said that they will not go to drink anywhere else.
'No pub has an atmosphere like the Swan'
Ann and John Barry, who were sat with family and friends, said: "We have been coming here for decades, and there is a real community here.
"We have had kids' parties, birthdays, and hen dos here, but you can come on your own and feel safe and have a chat with anyone.
"No pub has the atmosphere like the Swan and we won't have a social life once it's gone."
Holding a similar opinion, Steve and Sandra also said they are unlikely to drink anywhere else after the Swan is demolished, because of how safe and welcomed they feel at the Corporation Street venue.
Steve said: "We have been drinking here for around 13 years, and we probably won't go out after it's gone.
"Everyone knows each other and feels safe coming in, and you can't get a better pub in my opinion. Angela looks after everyone and she's the best landlady in the world."
Future unclear for pub landlady
While Angela admitted it had been a "nightmare year" due to the ongoing worries concerning the CPO, she has taken real comfort from the customers and community who have supported her through this process.
Given a preliminary date of October 2024 to vacate the premises, the 55-year-old said she is not sure what the future holds as she has not yet been offered a new venue from brewery Punch Pubs.
Angela, originally from Haydock, added: "I'm 55 now and I've been working in pubs since I was 25, so I'm not sure what's going to happen.
"If I'm offered a good pub I might take it, but for now we're all just staying as positive as we can and making the most of our time here."
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