The future of three pubs in and around Macclesfield is up in the air.

Greene King has confirmed that it is considering closing both the Butley Ash and the Rising Sun.

Meanwhile, the national pub chain is looking to implement a new pub estate strategy, with 300 pubs in line to be sold or transferred to a different model of ownership.

This includes the Blacksmiths Arms on Chelford Road, which currently operates under the Chef & Brewer brand.

A spokesperson for Greene King said: "Earlier in March we announced a new pub estate strategy to set us up to deliver sustainable and profitable growth for the future.

"As part of that, we identified approximately 300 pubs that would be better served under different models, with around half of those considered for a potential sale over the medium term.

"As a result of this process, we are now exploring all options available to us regarding the future of the Blacksmiths Arms."

The spokesperson added: "Separately, consultations are underway at the Butley Ash and the Rising Sun as potential closures are considered as part of our typical annual business activity.

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"Making the decision to close pubs is never an easy one and multiple factors are always considered before a final outcome is agreed.

"The teams have been notified, and our main focus is on supporting our team members at this time." 

Greene King has stressed that no final decisions have been made at this stage.

For now, all three pubs remain open and trading as usual.