The Puzzle Phoenix

Somewhere in the past the Puzzle Hall became the property of Punch Taverns (or whatever they are called this week). Their policy of maximum profits and minimum re-investment eventually resulted in the landlord moving on to better things and the pub closed. No-one seemed interested in taking it on so closed it remained.

Once the shutters went up in January 2016 the elderly building began to deteriorate alarmingly quickly and was subject to vandalism and theft.

Punch Taverns has previously rebuffed several offers to buy the Puzzle Hall but now had a change of heart, probably because they were broke.

A plan was hatched, some 233 people crowd funded the project, and the building was bought by Puzzle Hall Community Pub Limited in early 2018.

There was plenty to do! The building had been poorly maintained for many years. The toilets were an area of particular concern and had been the reason the previous landlord had walked away. Coupled with vandalism and theft that had occurred whilst the pub was closed, the only way to ensure the Puzzle’s future was to gut the building and start again.

With the help of volunteers and local tradesmen a transformation took place. Here are some photos showing the extent of the works undertaken.