29/01/2026
Thanks to Dave and Cath for hosting us the last few years a brilliant little pub with a cracking range of drinks.
Ok, a bit of a long one sorry!!
On behalf of myself, Cath and family, we would like to say a big thank you to everyone that has supported Bondies that is now in its 5th year of opening.
The time has come to pass the ownership of Bondies on.
The page will turn and a new chapter of Bondies will begin.
We set out over 7 years ago with a vision and a plan to give the people of Ellesmere Port something different from the 'norm'.
A bar that does not have a line up of mass produced beers that you find in any chain led pubs.
We instead opted to stock quality locally produced beers and top quality international beers that you would have to travel outside of Ellesmere Port to find.
We also wanted a place that was in the community for the community.
A place where people would feel safe and that everyone would feel welcome.
A place where friendships could blossom.
A place that when you walked through the door felt like you could be sitting in a bar anywhere in Europe.
A place with outstanding customer service.
A place (pardon the pun) where everyone knows your name.
Well, we think we have smashed that!!
The place is firmly in the community. We have supported local businesses. Raised over ten thousand pounds for local charities.
Everyone that visits Bondies cannot believe what a lovely friendly welcoming place it is.
Long lasting friendships have been formed.
We have also won a lot of awards and accolades in the time we have been open.
Who would ever have thought 5 years ago a small bar in Ellesmere Port would have been voted Cheshire's best Micropub??
Or continually in the prestigious CAMRA Good Beer Guide and short listed for the CAMRA Chester and surrounding area pub of the year?
The highest scoring bar in the area on Google reviews with a rating of 4.9 out of 5.
While all the awards and accolades are nice and shows all the hard work and dedication we have put into the place has been recognised,
none of this would have been possible without you and your continued support.
We have an amazing bunch of regulars, that have supported everything we have done.
But, even if you have visited Bondies only once you have helped support a local family run business.
The decision to pass Bondies on has not been an easy one and has not been taken lightly, as Bondies means so much to us and you.
We have put that much hard work and effort into making Bondies what it is today.
We have had many sleepless nights and many tears have been shed during this process.
We have not regretted opening Bondies one bit. We have enjoyed every minute of it, and it has been the best decision we have ever made.
We have met some wonderful people, who we now class as good friends.
You have become part of our extended family.
We worry about you when you are ill, if you don't turn up at the bar on your normal day or night.
But unfortunately I can no longer carry on for much longer.
I have already had two hip replacements at a young age and need to protect them now.
Also I have another operation next month regarding my knee.
Who said being a good sportsman in your youth was good for your health!!
We have looked and covered all the scenarios regarding keeping the bar within the family.
But, because I am such a hands-on person and I am at the bar 6 days a week, it would be hard for me to step back while still being involved in the bar.
With all this in mind and with the lease also up for renewal this year, we felt we could not commit to another 5 years.
Also, our family life has changed, with two of our sons having moved into their first homes and our third son now spending more time away from home due to work commitments.
We feel the time is right to have a bit more us time, and more time socialising as a family and looking after our three dogs!!
So we have decided it would be better to pass on the bar as a going concern.
We could have at this point put the bar on the market and let every, man and his dog look at taking over the bar. But did not want to go down that route. Instead we approached a couple of small independent family run Micropub businesses that are similar to Bondies and also had a good reputation to see if they would be interested.
We then met with Steve & Adele who run the Hopimist in Bebington.
They are a lovely, very friendly, approachable, easy going couple, and we knew from that point they would be a good fit for Bondies.
There is not going to be any major changes to Bondies from what it is today.
No name change, still selling quality Cask, Keg, wines and Spirits.
There is no doubt Steve and Adele moving forward will add their own personal touches to Bondies to help it carry on developing and growing which can only be a good thing.
Alfie, who is part of the furniture and has been with us since the start, will be staying on and will be taking more of a leading role in the new organisation.
We will still be around the place for a couple days during the transition period to help out in any way possible.
So we will now pass the Bondies baton on to Steve and Adele to carry on the good work.
Myself and Cath would like to take this opportunity to personally wish you both all the very best for the future and hope that Bondies gives you the same satisfaction and enjoyment it has given us.
Moving forward, we also hope you will all carry on supporting Bondies, and a local family run business in the same way you have supported us.
We will look forward to seeing you all on the right side of the bar for a drink or two!!
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
All our love
Dave, Cath and family š
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