Croft Then and Now - The General Elliot

The General Elliot
​Warrington Examiner 1892

To Brewers, Capitalists and others. Valuable FREEHOLD HOTEL and Pleasure Grounds at Croft near WARRINGTON. TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION BY
MR. THOMAS SUTTON at the LION HOTEL, WARRINGTON, on TUESDAY, 13TH SEPTEMBER 1892, at 3 for 4 o’clock p.m. precisely, subject to conditions to be then produced –

All that Freehold, Old-established, and Fully-licensed HOTEL, known as the GENERAL ELLIOT, situate in the centre of the well-known village of Croft, near Warrington, and distant from that town about five miles, and lying at a convenient distance from the neighbouring towns of St. Helens, Wigan, Bolton, Manchester, Leigh, and the thickly populated districts surrounding the same.

The house comprises bar, four public rooms, assembly room, large pavilion, capable of dining 300 persons, and nine bedrooms, with good cellarage, store-room, and out-offices, all being well adapted for carrying on an extensive hotel, restaurant and catering business.
The grounds comprise large enclosed bowling green in excellent condition, commodious outside bar, ornamental pleasure gardens, tastefully laid out with trees, plants, and shrubs, with artificially heated monkey house and aviary, fox-house, stabling for 12 horses, cottage, warehouse, and others, the whole covering a considerable area.

The above affords an opportunity seldom to be met with to purchase a well-established pleasure resort of a most successful and remunerative character, and which could readily be further developed to an almost unlimited extent.
The Hotel, where there is every accommodation for visitors, is easily accessible by road and rail from the above-mentioned and other important manufacturing towns in Lancashire and Cheshire, and the various attractions and amusements afforded by this pleasant resort draw together large concourses of pleasure-seekers, particularly during the summer months.

For further particulars apply to the owner, E. W. SANKEY Esq., Croft: the auctioneer, Warrington 1 or to Messrs. ROBERT DAVIES, KIRKCONNEL, DAVIES AND BURGESS Solicitors, Warrington.

The General Elliot
Online Ad, 2022
130 Years Later

The General Elliot is an attractive 2-storey, double-fronted property with single-storey extensions to the rear including an attractive conservatory. Situated in the suburban village of Croft approximately 4 miles north of Warrington town centre and just north of the M6/M62 interchange equidistant between Liverpool and Manchester. The property is situated in the heart of this attractive village with a mix of 18th-century cottages and more modern housing nearby most of which are relatively high value.

The premises comprise several clearly defined trading areas including a conservatory, rear dining/function room, split-level bar with dining in the lower level and two additional split-level snugs. The property has a light and airy contemporary feel and will comfortably seat 100 covers internally with an additional capacity of circa 80 covers seated in the lawned garden area or on the rear patio with views across the Cheshire countryside.
Additionally, there is a detached two-storey property within the demise previously operated as a general store with the car park to the rear accommodating 50+ vehicles.
The private accommodation consists of three bedrooms, lounge, kitchen, WC, bathroom, utility room and office.

The property trades predominantly as a food-led destination site with much of the impetus being on delivering quality, home-cooked food reflected in the excellent trip advisor reviews and the reputation locally. This is not to detract from the position of the site in the community, ensuring that it benefits from significant wet-only trade encouraged by the quality product range including the capacity to have 4 cask products available. The current menu is positioned such that starters are priced generally between £5-£8 with main courses starting at circa £10 up to £20 with a lunchtime offer available.

Two images of the General Elliot, old and new, blended together.