“We do have the CCTV, clear as day. You owe us £22 and an apology.”
Peter Johnson and Holly Scotts run the pub in Shaw Heath, Stockport (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
The landlords of a Stockport pub have made an impassioned plea to customers after someone stole from their venue. The team behind The Armoury pub in Stockport asked people to “give them a break” after a bar item was stolen over the weekend.
The Shaw Heath pub which is situated at the Greek Street roundabout in Stockport has faced a number of challenges over the last few months. In March, the key roundabout near Stockport town centre was closed ahead of major works taking place.
It shut at the end of March and will remain closed for 12 months as Network Rail install a new railway bridge, which currently carries the roundabout.
In a recent update, it was also confirmed that no trains will run to or from Stockport railway station for the most of August due to vital bridge repair work, with service changes also likely to hit a number of other Greater Manchester stations including Piccadilly and Oxford Road.
Greek Street roundabout in Stockport (Image: Manchester Evening News)
Located at the roundabout and just a few minutes walk from the railway station, the work has hit the pub, which has been run by Peter Johnson and Holly Scotts for the last year, particularly hard – making the recent theft even more difficult.
In a social media post on Facebook over the weekend they wrote: “Really feels like we shouldn’t have to ask.
“Last Friday one of our customers decided to help themselves to our cocktail ingredients. We don’t really understand why, as the bottles they took would be useless to them unless they happen to be mixing cocktails at home – but probably just for fun right.
The couple who run the pub, Peter Johnson and Holly Scotts, say the construction work at Greek St roundabout is affecting trade(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
“We’re literally just a couple from Stockport. We’ve probably served you in several local venues over the last few years, and we finally got the chance to make a place of our own.
“We’re still in the first year of business (the hardest year), we’re working against the roundabout closure right outside our front door, we already had to close our kitchen this month…now people are stealing from us too? Give us a break guys.
“And to the lad that took it – we do have the CCTV, clear as day. You owe us £22 and an apology.
In March, the key roundabout near Stockport town centre was closed ahead of major works taking place(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
“To all of us our wonderful customers who didn’t steal from us over the last week, thank you so much for your continued support.”
Despite only running the pub over the last 12 months, the pair have struck up a good connection with the local community, a relationship that has garnered them a lot of support since the most recent incident.
“Hope you have banned him…just no need for that. It’s tough enough to make it pay as it is…hope you get they money back,” said one of their customers on Facebook.
The Armoury pub in Shaw Heath, Stockport (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
“keep going guys, a great post and example on how to deal with thieves, said another.
Adding: “All too common these days but I am sure you know who is is and that they see sense and see their ways with an apology and recompense.”
While another, who has worked in hospitality for decades wrote: “As someone who worked in the industry for over 45 years I know just how hard it is!
Works at Greek Street roundabout will continue into 2026(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
“I wish you well in your endeavours and hope you do well – Robinsons are a great Brewery, good luck at the Armoury.”
Speaking with the Manchester Evening News this afternoon, Pete described the work they’ve done to build up a following despite the challenges of their location.
“We’re still in our first year, and we’ve taken over quite a historic pub with a big community presence and we’ve really tried to focus on community, making it a third space for people, so we’ve put on events, quizzes, acoustic nights and then there’s the strong connection with Stockport County FC over the road,” he said.
Works at Greek Street roundabout will continue into 2026(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
In terms of the works to the roundabout and bridge, he added that Robinsons Brewery did inform them but it was hard to know at the time what the impact would be.
“We have seen a fall off in trade and we know that times are tough for everyone, but we do have a unique challenge here. It’s been detrimental to business, we were left out of the One Stockport initiative, and we have been lobbying the Council for business rates relief.”
Holly also explained why the theft on the bar item was so strange, and not ideal given the current issues they face.
The Armoury pub in Shaw Heath, Stockport (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
“It’s a cocktail ingredient to replace egg whites in our sours, because it wouldn’t be safe for vegans, and we’re just trying to make it accessible to everyone. It does have alcohol content, but you wouldn’t want to drink it.
“A lot of other businesses have spoken to us and said it does happen but it’s always awful, it wouldn’t have hit us quite as hard but it’s come at the same time as some other difficult things.
“Two weeks previous, we’ve had to close down our kitchen, and we’re still very cut up about that. We work every minute, working round the clock, so to then have someone do that, it feels like every time we take a step forward another thing happens.
The Armoury pub in Shaw Heath, Stockport (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
“In terms of our business plan we had six months of funds to support the kitchen, to establish it and break even, but we actually held it up for longer than that.
“We did expect a drop off during summer just not as much as it has been, and there was no way we could sustain it any longer, but we never had a complaint, there was a lot of repeat customers, we just weren’t getting enough trade to justify cost.
“We tried delivery, which went really well for a month, and then the delivery driver’s sat navs updated to reflect closure, but that meant that all of a sudden people would place orders and delivery drivers would cancel even though they could access us.
“We’ve both been in hospitality for last 12 years, we’ve worked in Stockport, on the Marketplace and -The Underbanks, Heaton Moor, Macclesfield. We really have been doing this non-stop.
In an update posted in the comments of their original post, the pair also added: “Thanks to everyone for the support, again we really appreciate it, we couldn’t do the job we love without you all.
“We’ve put this up to raise awareness and give the lad a chance to correct his behaviour, obviously if nothing comes of it we can give the CCTV to police – but we’re not posting it here as that would hinder an investigation.”