High Street stalwart Hamby’s to close - but historic pub to reopen

Long-standing businessman Chris Hamby (pictured) is calling it a day, but neither of his Hamby’s units will be left vacant.

The 15th century Three Cranes  — Rotherham’s oldest secular building — is to change from an antiques store to a micropub, while the shoe shop will be replaced by a growing tattoo business run by young Rotherham entrepreneur Emily Dawson, of tattoo parlour Holy Ghost.

Mr Hamby said: “My blood is in these buildings but there comes a time when it’s right to pass the baton. 

“Town centres are adapting more and more to experiences, things you can’t do online, like get a tattoo.

“It’s important to me that we have a heritage building in the Three Cranes and it was always a dream for it to return to serving drinks.”

As well as running businesses in Rotherham for 27 years, Mr Hamby has been a champion of the town’s regeneration, and, in 2003, the firm bought the former Mason’s Jewellers on High Street, followed by the adjacent Clive’s Jewellers the following year.

In 2011 — with a central government loan obtained by the council — Hamby’s acquired five properties on High Street plus the nearby George Wright, and went on to renovte and bring them back into use.

The Three Cranes dates back to 1470 and has Tudor and Victorian additions. It was last used as a pub in 1907 and was more recently Wakefield Army Stores.

Rotherham District Civic Society welcomed the micropub plans and said Chris deserved a well-earned rest after his efforts to rejuvenate High Street in recent years.

Secretary Peter Hawkridge added: “Projects like the Cutler’s Arms and the George Wright Boutique Hotel are showing the way forward, as local entrepreneurs diversify into experiences that you can’t buy on the internet. 

“Using the heritage of the town centre to enhance those experiences can only be good and will serve to attract people from a wider area.

“Our late president Stan Crowther would have been overjoyed at news that people can buy a pint of best on High Street once again.”

He added: “It is to be hoped that Rotherham Council supports these moves and sees that it can add to their plans for leisure and entertainment on Forge Island.”