ROYAL PUBLIC MEETING OUTCOMES
Over 100 people attended the public meeting last week to discuss “What next for the Royal”. The main agenda item was: what should the “Save the Royal” campaign be doing in response to the recent asking price reduction from £850,000 to £575,000?
The hope is that this reduction will help to make the Royal of interest to a pub chain or other hospitality professionals. The Action group chairperson, Cath Moss, explained that the group would like to see professionals take it on, rather than going down the community funding route, which would be a massive and long term commitment.
Joss from the George Hotel said that she would like the Royal to reopen, but to try to offer something different and extra, that would attract more visitors, like promoting it as a base for the outdoors, for walkers, cyclists, and fell runners.
There were similar hopes expressed by the Action group, who felt that the Royal could be everything that it was previously, while developing the potential for additional features. The function room could be used on weekdays by a wide range of village groups, like yoga classes, book clubs, or wellbeing groups, making it a community hub. If some wall space could be allocated by the new owners for information displays – the mass trespass, other local history, walks information, art works, etc – it could become in effect like a visitor centre. It could then attract Peak District visitors even on weekdays and in poorer weather, exactly what the village needs. If the bar area could also function as a café it could attract some of the National Trust and garden centre clientele – the grey pound demographic. More footfall should bring a higher turnover to make the business sustainable.
A show of hands confirmed that the majority of attenders agreed with the proposal to try to attract hospitality professionals to take on the Royal, but to try to go ahead with a community initiative if no suitable purchasers emerge.
The Action group propose to now prepare some promotional material about the potential of the Royal and the attractions of Hayfield and the surrounding National Park moorlands, to be sent to as many pub chains as we can identify. Media coverage will also be sought as broadly as possible. Some new volunteers are expected to join the action group to help with the project.
The “Save the Royal” group was set up following a village consultation exercise which showed widespread support for trying to reopen the Royal. There were several meetings of representatives from most of the existing village interest groups, including the cricket club, church, and Civic Trust – and the Parish Council has shown its support by registering the Royal as an asset of community value. A core group was then formed to drive the project forward. We all want to see the Royal Hotel restored to its former glory.
It was and should be the heart of the village for residents and visitors to enjoy. With so much history we see The Royal Hotel not just as a pub with food, for people visiting the village to stay but a place for weddings, parties, live music, a meeting place and special events.
The worst case scenario is if the building is left to deteriorate it could be demolished and the land used for a new development. We can’t let this happen.
We are exploring, all funding options including applying for grants, crowdfunding, community shares and private investor finance to raise the money needed for purchase and renovation works.
If you would like to be involved in any way please contact us: actiontosavetheroyal@gmail.com
After the success of our first fundraiser at the end of August where we raised just under £2,000 (thanks again to everyone who supported this), we’ve set up a Go Fund Me Page to help raise money for the project. These donations will fund several pre-acquisition activities (valuation report, community ownership consultancy, FCA fees, marketing and communications materials, condition survey, community share issue, legal costs etc)
Latest News - February 2026
After standing empty for nearly three years, the asking price for the Royal of £850,000 has been substantially reduced to £575,000. The Save the Royal action group paid £2,000 for a specialist professional valuation of the Royal in August 2024. This valued the Royal at £445,000, and since then it has been damaged by a water leak in August 2025, as well as suffering further general deterioration over two more winters.
Although £575,000 could still be regarded as excessive, SRG believe this is an important step in the right direction. We feel that experienced hospitality professionals are now more likely to assess the Royal with a view to restoring it to its former status.
The next move is to hold a public meeting on Monday, 16th March, at 7.30pm, in St Matthew’s Church, Hayfield. The purpose will be:
- To explain these recent developments.
- To assess whether there is still community support for reopening the Royal and whether there is support for that being done by a community group if commercial buyers do not emerge.
- And if there is such support, are there any additional individuals, especially with eexperince in hospitality management or community funding, who would be willing to join SRG and help to make the project happen?
To assess whether the village shares our vision of the reopened Royal being even more than it was before. There are many opportunities: The function room could be used for a wide range of new daytime activities, as well as hosting regular live music events and if the bar area also functioned as a daytime café, the footfall and turnover could be greatly increased. And finally, part of the pub could accommodate information about the village, local history, including the story of the 1932 Mass Trespass, and displays such as locally produced artwork. This would make the Royal a visitor centre, attracting more people to the village.
We need your help and here is what you can do:
1. Write a letter of complaint or email to Wellington Pubs, c/o Criterion Asset Management, 4th Floor Millbank Tower, 21-24 Millbank, London SW1P 4QP. Email: info@criterionasset.co.uk or better still phone them on 0207 8025240
2. Write or contact the agents Fleurets Estate Agents, 342 Moston Lane East, Chadderton, Manchester M40 3HZ Tel: 0161 683 5445 and ask for Tim Martin
3. Contact High Peak Borough Council and call or write to the Conservation Officer, Town Hall Buxton SK17 6EL Tel: 01298 28400
- Email Councillor Robert McKeown, chair of planning committee: robert.mckeown@highpeak.gov.uk
- Councillor Damien Greenhalgh, Deputy Leader, regeneration: Damien.greenhalgh@highpeak.gov.uk
4. Contact your Borough and Parish Council officers.
Ultimately the Council has Compulsory Purchase Order powers but they need to know how strongly you feel about this historic building in the centre of our village being allowed to deteriorate in this way before they will use them.
It’s up to all of us to play our part.
Thanks
Save the Royal Group
Latest News - August 2025
Whilst we have not posted an update for some time, we have been busy behind the scenes trying to get some action from the owners/agents.
You will no doubt be aware that we, along with several others, submitted bids and expressions of interest in November last year at the end of the moratorium period. No acknowledgement or further communication from the owner or agent has been received to date. Despite written requests to Wellington Pubs directly, phone messages left on the mobile of their estate manager and contact made with the Estate Agents, they have remained completely silent on the issue of responding to the bids submitted.
We therefore contacted High Peak Council several months ago and had a meeting with senior officers including the head of Planning, Regeneration and Conservation and it was agreed that an inspection of the building be carried out by the Conservation Officer followed by a letter to the owners/estate agents drawing their attention to the poor state of the building and asking for vital repairs to be carried out. Due to its listed status the Council has powers under the Planning Act 1990 to serve Repair Notices requiring such works to be carried out. A visit was made several weeks ago by the Conservation Officer, and as far as we know, a letter has been sent.
In the meantime, a burst pipe/tank has been leaking water through the ceiling above the function room, which was already damp due to a leaking roof. This has added to the severe water penetration within the building and probably flooded the cellar where some of the main electric meters are housed. We have reported the problem to the security company, and Severn Trent Water, who are as we speak, due to be sending an engineer out to cut the water supply off. We shall also inform HPBC first thing on Monday morning.
It seems incredible that the owners/agents did not ensure that the water supply was turned off and any tanks drained on the vacation of the previous tenants! This building has been empty for two and a half years.
Latest news - March 2025
Big thanks to everyone who came to the Art auction
Massive thanks to everyone who came to the Art auction on Saturday. From the doors opening at 4.30 we had over 200 people in the Church viewing the art and at the auction. We sold everything, which is fantastic, and raised over £3,000 for the Save The Royal fund, which will help towards legal costs, and professional fees. Many thanks to all of the Hayfield artists who donated their works. Susan McColl for organising and Mike Greensmith for making it such a fun night. And Penny and Paul Jagger from St Matthews for all their help.
Art Auction on Saturday 26th October news
Art Auction on Saturday 26th October
Some of Hayfield’s finest artists are holding an Art Auction on Saturday, 26th Oct, at St Matthew’s Church. All proceeds are going to the Save The Royal Fund. Viewing starts from 4.30pm. Local artists such as Linda Sheldon, Carly Grice, Andy Gale, Henry Walsh, Ann Lyon, Chris Taylor, Karen Heywood, Simon Bridges, Eve Bridges, Rachel Eastop, Maria Tarnowski and Susan McCall have all very kindly donated some very special artwork to be auctioned and sold to the highest bidder. Free wine and cheese & biscuits on the night to help with getting your bids in!
Fundraiser at Hayfield Cricket Club on Friday 30th August 2024.
Big thanks to everyone who came to our first fundraiser held at Hayfield Cricket Pavillion with singer songwriter Clive Gregson. Thanks to you the night was a complete sell-out and we raised just under £2,000.
Sett Valley Trail August 2024.
We had a great weekend when we joined The Tent People (thanks Joss and Lynds) on the Sett Valley Trail. It was lovely to meet all the locals and visitors over the weekend and hear all the positive comments about seeing The Royal opening for busness again.
It was 10 years ago this year when Lisa and Mark from The Royal Hotel and a team of Hayfield music enthusiasts staged Hayfest on the cricket pitch. Over 50 live acts appeared playing to over 5,000 people over 3 days. Headline acts Steve Harley, Roachford and Andy Fairweather Low all had rooms at The Royal Hotel which became the nerve centre during the festival. The pub had never been busier and at times it was almost impossible to get through the front door it was so busy!
BBC One’s critically acclaimed epic Sunday night drama series The Village starring Maxine Peake and John Simm was filmed in and around Hayfield in 2012. The Village tells the story of life in a Derbyshire village in the early 20th century through the eyes of a central character, Bert Middleton. During filming cast and crew members stayed at The Royal Hotel and would be found in the bar after a day of filming. The cobbled ginnel at the side of the Royal Hotel was featured many times as it was used as the fake entrance to the village pub.
Hayfield resident and singer Sheila Collier created the first Hayfield International Jazz Festival in 1983, which ran for eight years. The Royal Hotel and other pubs in the village hosted many live music events with Hayfield becoming famous for holding the Festival. Some of the biggest names in Jazz appeared at the festival including The Humphrey Lyttelton band, Chris Barber Jazz and Blues Band, Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames, the Paul Jones Band and American musician Dr. John (who released the LP Splinter Trip Revisited (Live At Hayfield Jazz). Local trombonist Eric Brierley was a regular at the Royal Hotel playing Sunday sessions with his band until the early 2000’s.
The Royal Hotel has a very interesting and unique history. Originally built in 1755 by the parishioners of Hayfield for the then Vicar, the Rev. John Badley, it was a lovely place with gardens all around, stretching down to the bank of the river Sett. The Reverend John Badley died in 1764 and the Parsonage was then turned into a Public House, known as the ‘The Shoulder of Mutton’ owned by the local squire Captain John White of Park Hall. White a pillar of the church, converted the place, once again into a Parsonage and allowed the Vicar of Hayfield, to live their rent free. The Reverend John Brock who died in 1863 was the last Vicar to reside in the Old Parsonage at The Royal and in 1865, he turned the parsonage back into a public house, which he named The Royal Hotel.
How we remember The Royal Hotel.
We are exploring, all funding options including applying for grants, crowdfunding, community shares and private investor finance to raise the money needed for purchase and renovation works. If you would like to be involved in any way please contact us.