Original Mad O’Rourke’s goes into administration

Tuesday 27th July 2010, 11:30AM BST.

Mad O'Rourke's Pie Factory

The original Mad O’Rourke’s Pie Factory in Tipton has gone into administration, blaming the recession, it was revealed today.

The news comes just weeks after the iconic chain’s branches in Wordsley and Lower Gornal changed hands.

Administrators PKF have been appointed to run the Mad O’Rourke’s Pie Factory in Hurst Lane, Tipton, while a separate firm, Leonard Curtis, has taken over the affairs of Mad O’Rourke’s Ltd, which was responsible for the whole chain.

The decision was made on Friday and administrators today confirmed the pub would continue to trade while efforts were made to sell it.

Former Mad O’Rourke’s boss Pete Towler, from Tettenhall, declined to comment. PKF spokeswoman Jane Murray said: “The pub is continuing to trade with us as administrators, with the aim of selling it as a going concern.

“The pub closed due to difficulties recovering from the recession and the current economic conditions.”

Pub manager Deana Rowley said all 15 members of staff were still employed.

The famous pie factory chain handed its Gornal and Wordsley pubs back to Marston’s Brewery at the end of June after revenue fell and profits were hit by the recession. They were reopened under new names and ownership at the start of July.

Former head chef at the Gornal branch Ian Butts, aged 57, took over the pub in Himley Road, Lower Gornal, under the name “The Steak and Pie Factory”, while the branch in Camp Hill, Wordsley, reverted back to its original name the “The Vine” under Irish pub owner Liam O’Connell.

Tipton councillor Syeda Khatun today said she hoped someone would be able to save the last remaining Pie Factory.

“It would be a real shame to lose it, it’s a unique feature for Tipton.”

Regular at the pub car fitter Roger Massey, 50, of Wednesfield, said the news was like “a smack in the face”.

View more: Sandwell news, Tipton news, Wednesfield news, Wordsley news.

1
Warren

July 27, 2010 at 12:03 pm

I can’t say I’m surprised.

My missus lives near Tipton and a few times I’ve thought about going out for something to eat in the Pie Factory.

Yet every time I do, I have a look on the net and read story after story about uninspiring, packaged and frozen, ten’a'penny pub-grub, unfriendly staff, murky interior, ageing furniture.

The idea and the product is perfect, something unique and straight from the heart of the Black Country, but it sounds as though the execution’s been terrible. With a bit of care and attention, this place could’ve become iconic, it’s a real shame it hasn’t.

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2
antony j

July 27, 2010 at 12:07 pm

i loved eating there
its a crying shame eh?

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3
Ja

July 27, 2010 at 1:54 pm

food was great there aswell…what a shame!

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4
Dan

July 27, 2010 at 2:00 pm

Warren,

Surely you can only criticise the firm, quality, decor etc if you actually visit the chain yourself, as opposed to basing your views purely on the experience of annonymous reviews on the internet?

Hopefully the chain will be brought and survive, as the iconic name would be a big loss for the region

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5
Marcus

July 27, 2010 at 2:02 pm

Yes it is a shame but i think people could see it coming, the place was nearly falling down. i went to the Gornal 1 the other day and they are still using the same menu and food was fab! Got my mixed grill for 5.50 on tue

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6
Flooperdave Tividale Expat

July 27, 2010 at 2:55 pm

What is going on over there ? Just as bad here in Ohio places closing never to return if they do return,it’s never the same place – we used to visit the Pie Fact and the other pubs – now I hear the Tividale area has changed Red Lion – Plough – Barley Mow & many others are gone or changed – lets hope it ends soon and we can keep some of the good places alive –
Flooperdave Ohio USA

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7
Warren

July 27, 2010 at 3:01 pm

Dan,

I agree and believe me I wanted to come and try it, but almost all of the reviews I read were that bad that I decided against it.

If you’ve eaten there, you tell me what was wrong. All I meant by my post was it was an iconic name and an innovative idea, and if nobody could make that work (yet there are independent pubs elsewhere in the region that are successful), there must’ve been some fundamental problem somewhere down the line?

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8
Rieann

July 27, 2010 at 3:16 pm

I was just wondering If I am any relation to Roger Massey of Wednesfield? My mothers maiden name is the same and the family is from the surrounding area.

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9
Annie

July 27, 2010 at 3:40 pm

Gutted , ive spent many happy hrs down there and never had a problem with either the food or the staff

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10
KNIKI

July 27, 2010 at 4:31 pm

The food is always cooked fresh on the premises, by gorgeous silky maidens who’s only endeavor is to please…
Reviews are only ever used by the disgruntled few.. Ok the food isn’t gourmet, Egon Ronay would weep into his consume. But it caters, real food, for real people, and everyday pockets..
I am so shocked that a pub of such calibre has fallen prey to the Liquidators.
My heart go’s out to Peter, who is genuinely, a really nice man, with a heart of gold. Who’s dream was to carry on the O’Rourke legacy..
Today’s fuel, and food prices, coupled with the smoking ban is squeezing the profession dry.
Nicky xxx

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11
anon

July 27, 2010 at 4:34 pm

Everytime I attended the pub, the food was fantastic and not just warmed up, packaged grub. The home made chips and micks grill were also brilliant. It will be a shame if the pub closes.

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12
Eileen Ward-Birch

July 27, 2010 at 6:24 pm

Never had a bad meal there and it wasn’t ‘ding’ food. Now the big pub chain (W—)that takes over everything, that’s a different matter.

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13
ean33

July 27, 2010 at 7:36 pm

The reason an institute like this is closing is first the position its in and secondly the smoking ban, People will not pay pub prices when they have to sit outside to drink isolated from the buzz of the pub, i ran a busy boozer in willenhall many years ago serving real ale and o’Rourke was my only real competitor in the black country, I an saddened by this even but not shocked smokers are the back bone of the pub like it or not and no smokers mean no darts,pool and dominoes teams hence closed doors on many a local, i bet it will make smashing 3 story flats though !

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14
Tividale ex pat

July 27, 2010 at 7:59 pm

anyone know the name of their own home made beer – Hammer or mallet or something like it -good pint that was – what happens to the brew rights can they sell it at other pubs ?
ohio usa

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15
Billywiseman

July 27, 2010 at 9:13 pm

Is the place to eat “All the Pies” BUT its a mess, would not go again unless it was cleaned up–Crazey dave

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16
sedgley lass

July 28, 2010 at 8:55 am

Not really surprising to see this one go as well as it fell into the same tricks as other places… putting up the prices every year and cutting down the portions. Food used to be great, huge hearty portions, but each time I have visited in the last couple of years the dishes have got smaller. And although the charm of the place is the sawdust on the floor, I really used to hate the fact that I would stick to the grubby tables and chairs! Shame to see it go though, lets hope someone buys it and recovers it to its former glory.

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17
marktipton

July 28, 2010 at 11:11 am

Moved very near this pub last year.£2.60p for a bog standard pint of beer. Cant comment on food but would not of used the pub again

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18
Darby End Wolf

July 28, 2010 at 12:53 pm

14. Tividale ex pat

Is that beer that you are thinking of “LUMPHAMMER” – I remember my Dad (R.I.P.) drinking it when I was young.

The pull tap was a hammer if I remember correctly?

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19
ean33

July 28, 2010 at 10:39 pm

it was lump hammer but it cant be sold on as if i remember right it was holdens who made it for them, the same as the doomed bullies bitter, it was made and sold especially by holdens for pubs to name as there own

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