The Sale
A Grade II listed pub and pub-restaurant on Marsland Road in Brooklands, Sale, Greater Manchester.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Sale is a historic public house and pub-restaurant on Marsland Road in Brooklands, an area of Sale within Trafford, Greater Manchester. The building began life as the Moorfield Hotel, constructed in 1878 and opened in 1879. It was designed by the Manchester architectural partnership of Lockwood, Smith and Heathcote in an Old English or Domestic Revival style, using traditional vernacular references, varied rooflines and textured brickwork. The hotel formed part of the Moorfields estate, a residential development associated with the former Sale Botanic Gardens and Pleasure Grounds. The property developed over several decades. The adjoining gardens and pleasure grounds had previously been taken over by John and Marmaduke Witty of Manchester, but the attractions closed in the late nineteenth century as the surrounding land was redeveloped for housing. Historic Ordnance Survey maps from 1898 and 1936 identify the premises as the Sale Hotel; the later map also records a bowling green behind the building. In 1905 the hotel was expanded with a purpose-built billiard room designed by Whitelegg and Whittaker. The building was substantially altered internally during the 1960s, and most of its original Victorian public-room fittings were subsequently lost. The pub closed in March 2009. Proposed demolition generated a local preservation campaign, reflecting the building's architectural and community importance. On 13 January 2010 it was designated a Grade II listed building, providing statutory protection against demolition or unsuitable alteration. Greene King acquired the site in 2010 and announced plans to return it to pub use. Following refurbishment, the property reopened in September 2011 as the Moorfield Hotel, with former Manchester City and England goalkeeper Joe Corrigan attending the launch. It later traded under the Moorfield name before reopening in July 2024 as The Sale, a pub-restaurant. The venue's identity combines local hospitality with a protected historic setting. Its exterior is formed principally from purple and red brick with restrained stone details and a slate roof with leadwork. Distinctive elements include an eastern tower, a lower western billiard-room wing, projecting bays, casement windows, timber brackets and a half-timbered gable. Although the interior has been heavily modified, the principal staircase survives with decorative fretwork, shaped newel posts and a large leaded stair window. The former billiard room also retains its open timber roof. The Sale is therefore best understood as a local hospitality venue and heritage pub rather than a conventional packaged consumer brand. Its commercial proposition centres on food and beverages served in a restored and listed building, while its principal points of distinction are its long history, architectural character and connection to the Brooklands and Sale community. Greene King continues to own the freehold as of the latest supplied reference material.
History
The building now known as The Sale was constructed in 1878 as the Moorfield Hotel and opened in 1879. Its architects were Lockwood, Smith and Heathcote, a Manchester partnership whose design used the Old English manner associated with Domestic Revival architecture. The building employed purple and red brick, limited stone detailing, a slate roof and an irregular composition of bays, gables and towers. It was developed within the Moorfields estate, a residential area created after the decline and eventual closure of the adjoining Sale Botanic Gardens and Pleasure Grounds. The gardens and pleasure grounds had been taken over by John and Marmaduke Witty of Manchester. They closed in 1896–97, after which their land was developed for housing. The surviving estate established the historic setting for the hotel. Maps from 1898 and 1936 label the building as the Sale Hotel; the 1936 map also identifies a bowling green to the rear, indicating the property's role as a wider leisure and social venue rather than simply a lodging house. In 1905 the premises were enlarged by the addition of a purpose-built billiard room designed by Whitelegg and Whittaker. This western wing became one of the building's notable historic components. The pub and hotel were later altered, particularly during the 1960s, when substantial internal changes removed many Victorian fittings. The principal staircase survived, however, retaining features such as an open string, shaped newel posts, square fretted balusters and decorative work beneath the treads. The former billiard room also retained its open timber roof. The venue closed in March 2009. Plans to demolish the building prompted opposition and a local campaign to preserve it. The campaign succeeded in securing Grade II listed status on 13 January 2010. The listing recognised the building's architectural and historic interest and placed restrictions on demolition and significant alteration. Later in 2010 Greene King acquired the site and indicated that it would restore the premises for use as a pub, reportedly within its Hungry Horse chain. Refurbishment led to a reopening in September 2011 under the name Moorfield Hotel. Former Manchester City and England goalkeeper Joe Corrigan attended the launch. The building subsequently experienced further changes in trading identity, including a period under the Moorfield name. In July 2024 it reopened again, this time as The Sale, operating as a pub-restaurant. The latest supplied material states that Greene King continues to own the freehold as of 2025. Architecturally, the property has a roughly rectangular plan, a taller eastern section and a lower former billiard-room wing to the west. The eastern side includes an entrance with a half-timbered gable, an octagonal stair tower and a taller connected block. Upper casement windows sit beneath deep eaves supported by slender timber brackets. The interior is not preserved in its original form, but the surviving staircase and billiard-room roof contribute to the building's heritage value. Its modern identity rests on the combination of food-and-drink service, local hospitality and use of a protected historic pub building.
- 2024
Reopening as The Sale
[1]The property reopened in July as The Sale, operating as a pub-restaurant.
- 2011
Reopening as the Moorfield Hotel
[1]Following refurbishment, the venue reopened in September under the Moorfield Hotel name.
- 2010
Grade II listing and Greene King acquisition
[1]The building was listed Grade II on 13 January, and Greene King acquired the site later that year with plans for a pub reopening.
- 2009
Closure and threat of demolition
[1]The pub closed in March, and reported demolition plans led to a local preservation campaign.
- 1905
Billiard-room extension
[1]A purpose-built billiard room designed by Whitelegg and Whittaker was added to the building.
- 1896
Closure of the adjoining pleasure grounds begins
[1]The Sale Botanic Gardens and Pleasure Grounds closed during 1896–97, after which the surrounding land was redeveloped as the Moorfields estate.
- 1879
Opening of the hotel
[1]The newly constructed hotel opened to the public.
- 1878
Construction of the Moorfield Hotel
[1]The building was constructed as the Moorfield Hotel to designs by Lockwood, Smith and Heathcote.
Products and positioning
Local heritage pub and pub-restaurant offering food and beverages in a Grade II listed historic building.
Food service
Pub food
The Sale operates as a pub-restaurant, with food service forming part of its current hospitality offer. The supplied reference material does not provide a detailed menu or identify specific signature dishes.
Drinks service
Beverages
Beverages are offered as part of the venue's pub operation. Available categories, brands and product specifications are not detailed in the supplied sources.
Marketing campaigns
- 2009Local campaign to save the Moorfield Hotel
Sale · Trafford · Greater Manchester
Following the pub's closure and reported demolition plans, local supporters campaigned to preserve the historic building.
Outcome. The campaign contributed to the building receiving Grade II listed status on 13 January 2010, preventing its straightforward demolition.
Brand decisions
2024
Reopening under The Sale nameStrategyBackground
The historic property had previously traded under the Moorfield identity after its 2011 reopening.
Action taken
The venue reopened in July 2024 as The Sale and adopted a pub-restaurant format.
Aftermath
The Sale became the current trading identity of the venue, while Greene King retained ownership of the freehold according to the latest supplied material.
2011
Reopening as the Moorfield HotelStrategyBackground
Greene King's acquisition was followed by a refurbishment programme intended to restore the closed premises to hospitality use.
Action taken
The venue reopened in September 2011 under the Moorfield Hotel name.
Aftermath
The premises continued operating as a pub before later changes in trading name and its 2024 relaunch as The Sale.
2010
Greene King acquires the siteM&ABackground
The building had closed and faced reported demolition proposals after the 2009 closure.
Action taken
Greene King purchased the site and announced plans to return it to pub use.
Aftermath
The property was refurbished and reopened in 2011, later trading under different names before its 2024 reopening as The Sale.
Sources1 sources
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