This is Rammy

Eleven Eleven, the bar and restaurant on Bolton Road West in Holcombe, has sadly closed after two years of trading. The premises is now on the market for £400,000.

The place has been shut for a couple of weeks, though it’s still showing as open Wednesday to Sunday online. There’s nothing on the door to explain what’s happened.

According to The Bury Times, Companies House records show the business registered in April 2024. A notice from March suggests a director stepped back from his role.

The listing describes it as a ‘substantial and versatile’ property with about 1,515 square feet of trading space on the ground floor, including a central bar, commercial kitchen and toilets. There’s a 568 square foot basement for storage, plus a self-contained flat above that’s roughly 1,039 square feet.

If you know more about what happened or have memories of the place, feel free to share them in the comments.

The adventurous rodent managed to achieve the impossible, by gnawing through a critical line at a nearby substation, the squirrel triggered a widespread blackout that left the school without power, internet, or basic utilities.

A Technical Standstill
The outage, which struck late Friday morning, created a significant logistical challenge for the school.

Beyond the loss of lighting and WiFi, the lack of electricity meant that essential systems for hot water and sanitation were unable to operate.

Faced with a lengthy wait for repairs and the inability to maintain a comfortable environment, the leadership team made the call to dismiss the students early after contacting parents.

Exemplary Student Response

Despite the sudden change in plans, the students have been praised for their mature and calm response. Staff noted that the atmosphere remained positive throughout the evacuation, with pupils handling the disruption with a level of common sense that did the school proud.

In a classic twist of timing, the lights flickered back on just as the students were heading home.

However, as the water systems required a period of recovery, the “squirrel-sanctioned” holiday remained in place.

Back to Business

Engineers have worked through the day to ensure the damaged substation is fully repaired and the cable replaced. The school has confirmed that all facilities are now fully operational, and the gates will open as normal on Monday morning.

While the “hero of the hour” may be back in the trees (doubt it), the legend of the squirrel that took down the National Grid is sure to be the main topic of conversation at the school gates next week.

Alright, Rammy folks, listen up! It sounds like we’re getting a new spot to check out this month, and this one promises something a bit different. Forget your usual Friday night takeaway; Mélange is opening its doors and bringing a taste of the Mediterranean to the Red Hall Hotel.

So, What’s On the Menu?

Mélange is opening where Oscar’s used to be, and they’re promising a blend of Mediterranean and British flavours. A bit of sunshine on a plate, mixed with some comforting classics – sounds interesting, right?

The menu’s supposed to be a bit of a “varied mixture” (that’s the gist of the name, apparently!). Expect to see dishes like:

• Lamb with bold spices
• Goat’s cheese salad with red wine-poached pear
• Mediterranean seafood risotto
• Buttermilk-soaked fried chicken
• Beef Wellington with “Chef’s special pastry”

Plus, sharing platters are on offer – mezze, charcuterie, and all that jazz. So, there should be something to please everyone… hopefully.

More Than Just a Meal?

Apparently, Mélange wants you to get involved with your food. Their tapenade comes with a mortar and pestle, so you can mash it up yourself at the table. A bit different, eh?

As for the vibe, they’re aiming for a Mediterranean feel – greenery, calming colours, trying to transport you to sunnier shores. Ambitious, in Lancashire, but we’ll see how it pans out!

A Word From The Owners

Priyanka and Gourav Batra, the folks behind Mélange, say:

“Mélange is about celebrating the warmth of family and friends, the joy of sharing good times, and creating lasting memories. It’s where British tradition meets Mediterranean flair, bringing love, life, and laughter to the table. We’ve created a space where every meal feels like a celebration, and we can’t wait to share it with you.”

Final Thoughts?

Mélange is opening this month, and it sounds like it could be worth a look. Will it be a hit with the Bury crowd? I might have to pop up and see what it’s like.

Bookings are now live on OpenTable, so if you’re feeling adventurous, get yourself a table!

Real Life Radio Rossendale launches today, with some familiar sounding hosts if you’ve ever listened to Rossendale Radio.

The station promises to offer “PROPER MUSIC. REAL TALK.” all streamed online, you can get it on your Amazon Echo if you have one, or via the website directly with efforts to bring in digital radio at a later date.

The station founders were previous hosts on Rossendale Radio who since leaving Rossendale Radio have now started Real Life Radio Rossendale. This means you’ll hear fantastic familiar hosts such as Charlie Kerrigan, Steve Youngs, James Goulding, Tracy Heatley and Tony Horne amongst others, you can find out who on their Meet the team page.

What has that got to do with Ramsbottom I hear you cry? Well, how about The Ramsbottom Hour hosted by me?

I’ve not fully formed the show yet, but it will most likely lean heavily on the podcast however one benefit is there will be music, which I simply can’t do on the podcast for music licensing reasons.

I’m really looking forward to this new challenge and the team are all eager to bring you what you want to hear, so if you have suggestions, you can get in touch with the station to let them know.