“I lost my grandad due to cancer, so it’s something to give back.”
A community pub in Little Lever had a busy night while
Henighans Bar & Grill, on Little Lever Street, hosted a fundraising night for Bolton Hospice, which raised just over £800 in that single night.
Phoenix Moden, who was part of organising the event, chose the hospice as her grandad died from cancer, with the hospice giving him end-of-life care.
She said: “At the moment, we are literally hanging on by our customers.
“We are doing everything we can to stay open, bring people in, and do promotions, silly little games.
“We’re just trying to keep it busy, and the community is really helping out. We couldn’t do it without our customers.”
Regulars and newcomers alike joined together in a tombola, raffles, and bake sales – ending in 31 prizes that were won.
Henighans regularly host fun events, such as the first pub-goer who brings a rubber duck to the bar getting a free pint, to keep it alive in the community.
Phoenix added: “It’s something to give back, and all the community can get together.
“We enjoyed ourselves- it’s not often we can do that due to the cost of living.”
The pub’s history stretches back decades to the 1980s, and in 2009 Henighans took over, renamed after Michael Henighan, a former landlord.
Today the venue is described as a proper local, an independent bar and grill offering pub food, real ales (including changing cask ales from local brewers like Bank Top), live music, karaoke, and darts and football teams.
“We were so proud to see everyone coming together, obviously, with the cost of living so high, everyone still chipped in to give back.”
The Henighan's name has become embedded in the identity of Little Lever, representing a rare example of a community pub successfully revived under a local name rather than lost to closure.
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