Cheshire town's empty last bank to be absorbed by hotel

The former NatWest bank in Sandbach and the neighbouring Wheatsheaf

A former bank is to be absorbed by a neighbouring hotel in Sandbach. The NatWest on Hightown was the town’s last bank when it closed in February 2023.

Now owners of the adjacent Wheatsheaf hotel have announced they have purchased the bank building. Part of the building is to be converted into hotel rooms, Pear Hospitality Group said in a statement, with the new owners adding they are “particularly excited about the possibilities for the ground floor”.

The purchase will also allow for an enlarged car park, the firm said, allowing the gastropub, steakhouse and hotel to cope with ‘growing demand’. The firm, based in Stoke-on-Trent, also owns The Lion and Swan, Congleton, and The Blue Bell Inn, Smallwood, and said it is keeping its plans for the ground floor ‘under wraps for now’, adding ‘we can assure our guests and the community that an exciting announcement is on the horizon.’

READ: Parking charges could rise again in Cheshire East within a year | Newly introduced parking charges could see fees rise as early as January

READ: Barclays opens ‘cashless’ site in Cheshire town with no banks | The ‘Barclays Local’ opened at Sandbach Town Hall in August, but doesn’t handle cash transactions

The town has been without a dedicated bank for over a year. A cashless ‘Barclays Local’ branch opened inside Sandbach Town Hall in August, offering financial reviews, balance requests, support with open savings accounts and with digital banking, but not everyday banking transactions, which a Barclays spokesperson at the time said “need to be completed at the local Post Office.”

Aside from the Post Office, the town is served by a Nationwide Building Society branch.

Jake Pear, managing director of The Pear Hospitality Group, said: “We are thrilled about the acquisition of the former Natwest Bank, a property with immense potential that perfectly complements our existing gem, The Wheatsheaf. This expansion allows us to further enhance the overall experience for our guests, and we are particularly excited about the possibilities for the ground floor.”

NEWSLETTER: Sign up for CheshireLive email direct to your inbox here