A  former director of a village pub which is up for sale has pledged to help customers who have not received a refund for meal vouchers.

The Bolton News reported this week that the The Cross Guns was up for sale with customers concerned about vouchers they had bought or had been given to buy meals.

The Cross Guns Inn announced a temporary closure on January 3, but since then former director Jeremy Jones has confirmed the gastropub has closed.

Customers have voiced concerns over meal vouchers, with many saying they had yet to be refunded for the cost.

Mr Jones resigned in December 2022 along with Robert Smith leaving John Peek in charge, but customers - and The Bolton News - have been struggling to get hold of Mr Peek.

The Bolton News:

Mr Jones  said he left for "business reasons".

He believes the closure is due to economic circumstances, such as rising costs and declining footfall.

Mr Jones says that energy costs at the pub soared and that was the 'final nail in the coffin'

Mr Jones said: “I understand that he fully intended to reopen at the end of January.

“These are tough trading times for all business, this wasn’t the first pub to fail in Bolton recently and unfortunately it won’t be the last.”

The Bolton News:

Customers are being encouraged to email John Peek for a refund and if there is no response, Mr Jones says he will help to get the matter resolved.

But Andy Entwistle says he has emailed multiple times and still not received a response or a refund from Mr Peek.

He said: “I sent an email in January requesting a refund and haven't received one, nor received a reply.

“Plus, they should have automatically refunded all vouchers if they cannot be used. Not just the ones that were requested.”

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The Bolton News: Andy Entwistle Andy Entwistle (Image: Public)

Mr Jones said the gastropub has been refunding people since the closure and people should double check their accounts.

He said: “We are selling the property and hopefully it will be purchased by a new operator who can take it forward and make it into a success.

“Over the past six years we have spent over £700,000 improving the property and it is a fantastic venue in a great location and with a wonderful local customer base.”