Author: manchestercamra

Welcome to your CAMRA Branch Update. Spring is here, flowers are opening, but unfortunately pubs and breweries are closing. CAMRA, however, continues to campaign to try and bring a little sunshine into beer drinkers’ lives.

Branch Meeting

The March branch meeting will take place at the Ukrainian Social Club, 99 Castle Street, Bolton, BL2 1JP this Thursday, 5 March, at 8.00 p.m. If you haven’t already voted online you will be able to vote for the Pub of the Year, Cider Pub of the Year and Club of the Year at the meeting. All are welcome to come along to the meeting, but only members can vote.

Sharp’s Doomed

Well it may have taken longer than anticipated, but Molson Coors have announced the imminent closure of Sharp’s Brewery of Rock in Cornwall. Coors took over Sharp’s in 2011 to get their hands on its flagship brand, Doom Bar, and managed to turn it into the country’s best selling cask brand, putting £20m of investment into the brewery in the process. Unfortunately, owing to cost saving changes to the recipe, they also managed to turn it into a beer many drinkers avoid. Now, Coors have concluded that brewing in Cornwall is no longer sustainable and the brewery will close with the loss of 50 jobs. Doom Bar will presumably join lots of other ‘local’ brands being brewed at Coors’ giant brewery in Burton-on-Trent.

Sadly, Sharp’s is joining a long list of cask breweries we have lost recently with Caledonian, Jennings, Ringwood, Banks’s and Wychwood all having disappeared.

Planning Ahead

Pubs are not well protected in the current planning system. In the National Planning Policy Framework, there is a duty on local authorities to guard against the loss of leisure facilities, including pubs. You will have been asked recently to write to your MP about proposed changes to this limited protection. The government’s proposal is to put in place better protection but this would apply only to the last pub in an area. This would leave all the other pubs vulnerable to being converted to flats or other uses. There is no indication of what constitutes an ‘area’ so that could in theory be the whole of Bolton. Maybe we should carry out a survey to find out what CAMRA members think ought to be the last pub in Bolton. 2600 members have already written to their MP about this issue and if you haven’t already, you can still do so here.

From CAMRA’s prespective, we are fortunate in Bolton to have three MPs who are very supportive of our position on pubs, clubs and breweries. The MPs have been willing to meet with us to understand what issues are of concern to beer drinkers in Bolton and have taken positive steps to speak to the government on our behalf, including asking questions in Parliament. We have already seen how the influence of local MPs can bring about changes in policy on matters such as business rates. Let’s hope they can do the same on this planning issue.

Keeping It Local

Bolton Council, on the other hand, seems a little less receptive to these concerns. As I mentioned in my last update, CAMRA has submitted objections to the change of use of some pubs in the branch area as it believes that losing a community hub is an important decision. The Council has a duty to guard against the loss of community facilities and, to my mind, this means that if someone wants to close a pub, the Council should think seriously about the impact of the loss of the pub on the local community before granting permission to change its use. CAMRA’s concerns, however, have often been disregarded on the basis that there are other pubs nearby. When the Cotton Tree on Prince Street closed in 2024, the Council concluded that the community needed a nursery more than a pub and that there were other pubs in the area anyway. We have now heard that the Royal Hotel, the nearest pub to the former Cotton Tree, is to close. Which ‘nearby’ pub will the customers from the Cotton Tree and the Royal be expected to frequent now? Neither of the pubs served cask ale but nevertheless they do serve an important role in their communities. Not all pubs appeal to the same type of customer and the next ‘nearby’ pub may be of a completely different type. These factors should all be taken into account before permission is given to change the use of a pub.

Socials

Wigan Beer Festival takes place this coming weekend, from Thursday 5 until Saturday 7 March at Ribin Park Leisure Centre. A delegation from Bolton CAMRA will be heading to the festival on Friday afternoon if you would like to join them.

We will be having another outing to Wigan on Saturday 21 March to try some of the excellent pubs in the town centre. As always, details are available on the branch website here.

As winter recedes I hope that some of the difficulties our pubs faced during the cold dark months will also start to fade. This will only happen if we get out to our locals and support them. I know prices are going up but we are lucky that Bolton and its neighbouring areas still have some of the cheapest and best beer in the country, particularly that brewed by our local breweries. Let’s get out there and make sure they don’t go the same way as the Cotton Tree and Sharp’s.

Cheers,

John Mitchell – Chair

Travel to Wigan by bus or train depending on which is easiest. We will meet in Wigan Central at around 12.30 before visiting some, or all, of the pubs listed below. If catching the train from Bolton Station trains leave at 11.32, 11.49 or 11.53 arriving 11.50, 12.07 and 12.46 respectively (off peak return fare £7.20). If you have a bus pass with the trains added the fare is free.  Catch the 575 bus from Bolton at 11.10 (11.30) calling at the Crown, Horwich at 11.39 (11.59) arriving in Wigan at 12.13 (12.33) Later bus in brackets

Wigan Central, Arch No. 1 and 2, Queen Street, WN3 4DY. 6 changing ales

Swan & Railway, 80 Wallgate, WN1 1BA, 7 handpumps with 4 changing beers, Food available

Real Crafty, 9 Upper Dicconson Street, WN1 2AD, 4 changing beers

Wigan Brew House, The Old Brewery, Brewery Yard, WN1 1JQ, 3 changing beers

Tap & Barrel, 16 Jaxon’s Court, WN1 1LR, 2 changing beers

There are plenty of other pubs in Wigan, so this list is just suggestions.

If your favourite is not on the list let us know on the day and we can visit. If you need any further details, please contact social@bolton.camra.org.uk or call Gill on 07967585670. If you arrive after the start of the social, please contact Gill to find out where the group are at that time.

Gill Smart, Social Secretary

Wigan Beer Festival is on Thursday 5-Saturday 7 March. You can go any day or all days but there will be a Bolton CAMRA branch meet on Friday 6 March.

The festival venue is Robin Park Sports and Tennis Centre, Loire Drive, Wigan, WN5 0UH. The Centre is directly opposite the DW Stadium – home of Wigan Athletic FC and Wigan Warriors RLFC, just over one mile from the centre of Wigan.

Festival Bus times on Friday 5 March. The Bus runs from 12.00 every 30 minutes from Stand A Bus station or a minute later from Wigan North West.

Meet at the venue from 12.00.

If you need any further details, please contact social@bolton.camra.org.uk or call Gill on 07967585670 or look at the website on https://beerfestival.wigancamra.org.uk/

Welcome to your CAMRA Branch Update. January is always a difficult time for pubs and I hope you’ve been able to get out and support our locals when they need us most. The first month of 2026 was certainly eventful so far as beer and pubs are concerned and there’s plenty going on both nationally and locally.

Branch Meeting

The February branch meeting will be held at the Millstone,12 Crown Street, Bolton, BL1 2RU at 8 p.m. on Thursday 5 February 2026.
At this meeting we will be selecting the branch’s nominations for the Good Beer Guide 2027 from the shortlist approved at the January meeting. If you can’t make the meeting you can vote online here up until midnight on Tuesday 3 February. You will need your CAMRA membership number to log in. As always, everyone is welcome to attend branch meetings although only members will be able to vote in the Good Beer Guide selection. 

Awards

At the January branch meeting a vote was held to choose the Winter Pub of the Season. Votes cast at the meeting were combined with online votes and the winner was Sparrows Rum Bar in Horwich. Presentation of the award will take place on the evening of 19th February. Keep an eye on our social media for more details.

Although a relatively new kid on the block, Sparrows, as well as serving two changing cask ales, is also one of a few outlets in the branch area serving what CAMRA considers ‘real’ cider. CAMRA defines real Cider or Perry as being fermented from the whole juice of fresh pressed apples or pears, without the use of concentrated or chaptalised juices. The word ‘chaptalised’ as used in the definition refers to a process where the alcohol level in a cider or perry is increased by the addition of sugar to an unnatural level for storage, before it is diluted with water to the desired alcohol content for sale.

This means that Sparrows, along with the other pubs serving real cider, will be eligible to be the branch Cider Pub of the Year which will be voted for at the March branch meeting. The Pub of the Year and Club of the Year will also be chosen at that meeting although, as always, online voting will be available. The Pub of the Year will be selected from one of those nominated for the Good Beer Guide but the Club of the Year is open to any club in the branch area which serves consistently good quality cask ale on a regular basis. In previous years there has been a small number of nominations owing to the lack of information about clubs serving cask ale. We would be delighted to receive nominations for more clubs serving cask ale to give a wider field of candidates for this award.

Campaigning 

In my last update I mentioned that CAMRA, along with other industry bodies, was lobbying the Government to rethink the changes made to business rates on pubs in the budget. These changes would have resulted in some pubs paying significantly increased bills. That lobbying has been partially successful with the Government now offering some transitional relief. CAMRA’s response to the Government’s announcement can be read here: More temporary relief for pubs short-term and short-sighted

Interestingly, the relief only applies to pubs and not social clubs or restaurants although some clubs may fall within the Government’s definition of a pub. Pubs that turn away customers who are not eating and so are effectively restaurants, might be putting out the welcome mat to us casual drinkers again in order to benefit from this relief. 

Pub and Club News 

A long anticipated application has been submitted to convert the Shakespeare in Farnworth into a house of multiple occupation (HMO). The pub, formerly owned by Admiral Taverns and closed in 2022, is a Grade II listed building with a historic interior. The application for listed building consent states that the historic features will be retained although CAMRA’s Pub Heritage Group, which has submitted an objection, maintains that this would not be possible given the substantial alterations required for the new use. 

In my last update I reported that Ben’s at the Legion in Blackrod had reopened as BlackJak’s. Despite this another application has been submitted to convert the property into four apartments. The previous application was rejected although CAMRA’s objection, citing the loss of a valuable community asset, was dismissed on the basis that there were other pubs nearby. Since then, one of those nearby pubs, the Ridgeway next to Blackrod Station, has reportedly itself closed its doors. 

Comments have been made that it is easy for CAMRA to put in objections to changes of use because they do not have to try to run a business which is no longer viable. It is true that not all pubs will always be viable but in many cases pub owners deliberately run a business down in order that the value of the premises may be realised through a change of use to something more lucrative. There are many examples around the country where a pub, claimed by its owners to be unviable, has thrived when permission for a change of use has been denied and a new operator has been put in place.

If you are curious about the ownership of your local, there is an interesting feature on CAMRA’s website here by Paul Ainsworth, CAMRA’s National Planning Advisor, about the rise of the big pub owning companies and how they exert such tight control over where and what we drink. 

Socials

On Friday 13 February, there will be a visit to the Dark Side of Preston, where five pubs will be celebrating the delights of darker beers. As always, details are on the Social Events page of the branch website here.

So, as Winter slowly recedes and we start to look forward to Spring let’s do our best to make sure that those pubs that have survived Dry January remain viable. 

Cheers,

John Mitchell – Chair

Happy New Year and welcome to your first Bolton CAMRA Branch Update of 2026. I’m not sure what the new year has in store for us but let’s hope it’s a good one for our pubs, clubs and breweries, although the early signs aren’t great.

Branch Meeting

Just a reminder that the January Branch Meeting will take place at 8pm this Thursday, 8 January at the Olde Man and Scythe, Churchgate, Bolton BL1 1HL. At this meeting, we will be voting for the Winter Pub of the Season and reviewing the long list for entries into the 2027 Good Beer Guide.

Campaigning

The big issues that CAMRA will be campaigning on at the beginning of this year are business rates and planning. We are still lobbying the government to rethink its position on business rates for pubs. Although the multiplier used to calculate the rates has been reduced, the removal in April of the 40% discount introduced during Covid and the revaluation of properties means that, in fact, bills will go up for a lot of pubs. This is already a difficult time and these additional costs could see more closures.

Should pubs close, changes to the planning regime proposed by the government could make it easier for the use of the premises to be changed. Although applicants will have to show that they have tried to sell the pub as a going concern, this will only apply if the application relates to the last pub in an area. There is no indication of what will will be considered an ‘area’, but in an urban environment like Bolton, there’s always likely to be another pub in the ‘area’ so there will be no effective protection at all. This is already Bolton Council’s approach having dismissed CAMRA’s objection to the change of use of Ben’s at the Legion in Blackrod on the basis that there are other pubs nearby, albeit a pretty long walk away.

Pub News

Notwithstanding the Council’s dismissal of our objection to its conversion to flats, in an unexpected development, Ben’s at the Legion has now reopened as Blackjak’s. It is advertising a cask club on weekday afternoons with ales at £3 per pint which sounds like a good reason to pop in and see what beers they’re serving (and score them). If someone is prepared to take the chance on reopening this pub, we should give them our support.

On the other side of the coin, the iconic Sweet Green Tavern in Bolton town centre remains closed, supposedly for refurbishment but there’s not much sign of anything going on and no news of any repoening date.   

Socials

Our next branch social will be on Saturday 24 January to Salford starting at the New Oxford on Bexley Square at 1 pm. On Friday 13 February, there will be a visit to the Dark Side of Preston, when five pubs will be celebrating the delights of darker beers. As always, details are on the Social Events page of the branch website here.

Lots of people will be considering taking part in Dry January after the excesses of the festive season. Whilst acknowledging the sentiments behind this, CAMRA would prefer you to take part in Tryanuary to experience either a pub or club you haven’t visited before or maybe try a beer or cider that’s new to you. If you are determined to abstain for the month, however, that’s no reason not to visit the pub. There are now many craft brewed no and low alcohol beers out there so there should be something for everyone. Our pubs and clubs need our support during what is always a difficult month.

Cheers

John Mitchell – Chair

The Dark Side of Preston runs from Thursday 12 -Saturday 14 February. We are planning the social for Friday 13 February for those who can attend on the Friday.  Five Preston venues will be celebrating every shade of black; from sessionable porters to hearty, winter-warming barley wines.

Meet at Winckley Street Ale House at 1.00pm. There are trains from Bolton at 12.08 and 12.22 arriving in Preston at 12.35 or 12.58. Please check the price depending on the type of ticket you need. There is the 125 bus from Bolton to Preston which runs regularly. The journey time from Bolton is just over 90 minutes. Bolton 10.47 (10.57), Horwich Ale House 11.14, (11.24), Preston 12.32(12.37).

Here is a selection of the pubs we can visit.

Winckley Street Ale House, 8B Winckley Street, PR1 2AA, 4 cask ale, 10 keg. Food available

Black Horse, 166 Friargate, PR1 2EJ. Robinsons pub, 9 cask ales including 6 changing. Range of pies

Guild Ale House, 56 Lancaster Road, PR1 1DD, 7 cask ales

Plug & Taps, 32 Lune Street, PR1 2NN, 4 changing cask ales

Chain House Brewing Taproom, 139-141, Market Street West, PR1 2HB, 2 cask ales, 8 keg

If you need any further details or need to contact on the day, please contact social@bolton.camra.org.uk or call Gill on 07967585670

We will meet the platform at Bolton train Station at 12.10 to catch the 12.18 train to Salford Central.  The train fare is £7.40 return but will be cheaper if booked in advance and with a rail card.  If you have a bus pass which includes the £10 rail pass it will not cost anything

If you want more details or intend to join us later, please contact Gill on 07967585670. Our first stop will be the New Oxford so if you want to meet us in Salford we should be there by 1.00pm.

New Oxford, 11 Bexley Square, M3 6DB, 10 changing beers, food available

Kings Arms, 11 Bloom St., M3 6DB, 4 changing beers

Old Fire Station, Albert Bentley Place, M5 4WT. No cask ale but a good selection of keg.  Food is available. The pub is worth visiting to look around

Gas Lamp, 50a Bridge Street, M3 3BW, 4 changing beers with normally 2 from Pomona Island

If you know any pubs with very good beer we can always include in the social

If you need any further details or need to contact on the day, please contact social@bolton.camra.org.uk or call Gill on 07967585670

Welcome to your latest Bolton CAMRA Branch Update. As I write this, the rain is pouring and it looks like it might be another wet and mild Christmas. Not that everything wet, mild and pouring is bad news. With two of our local breweries, Bank Top and Blackedge, unashamedly producing Dark Mild without trying to disguise it as ‘Black’ or similar, there’s something tasty for those who favour the dark side. Many other dark beers are also available at this time of year, from inky black stouts tasting of anything from coffee and chocolate or even popcorn to deep red winter ales tasting of plum pudding. Hopefully there’s been something to tempt you to call in your local for a bit of respite from the miserable weather.

Annual General Meeting

The Branch AGM took place on 13 November and all the officers were re-elected for another year. The minutes of the meeting can be viewed on the Branch website here (you will need your CAMRA membership number to log in). Ralph Warrington, North West Regional Director, gave a short briefing on national and regional issues, setting out the threats drinkers face from the global brewing conglomerates and the new temperance movement. Reports were received on membership, social activites, cider, website statistics, and Bolton Beer and Cider Week. The Branch Pubs Officer gave a round up of movements on the Bolton pub and club scene. Copies of all these reports are included in the minutes.

The Budget

Well, the Budget finally arrived and after a great deal of speculation we found out what was in store for the hospitality industry. The answer was, yet more financial challenges for our pubs and hotels. In a nutshell, although the Government is to introduce a lower business rates multiplier, which is good news, they are also removing the 40% relief which was brought in to protect pubs during the pandemic. This, coupled with a rating revaluation is likely to result in most pubs actually paying significantly more than they do currently. This is on top of measures introduced in last year’s budget which continue to impact hospitality businesses.

All this could easily result in an increase in the number of pubs closing. CAMRA has organised an e-lobby of MPs asking them to put pressure on the Government to undertake a fundamental review of the business rates system as was promised. CAMRA has prepared a template email for members to send. Click here, fill in your details and a personalised email to your MP will be ready to send. Every email sent to your MP really helps to build momentum behind calls for the Government to support our pubs.

Winter Pub of the Season

If your local is a haven in these dark times or you have visited a pub that you thought was particularly cosy, maybe you would like to nominate it for our Winter Pub of the Season award. This award is intended to recognise a pub in the branch area which gives its customers somewhere to enjoy their favourite tipple in an atmosphere that’s warm and welcoming and maybe has that extra touch like an open fire and plenty of festive spirit. It must, of course, serve good quality cask beer. If you would like to nominate a pub, please email me on chair@bolton.camra.org.uk by 27 December with a couple of lines about why you think it deserves the award. The branch committee will draw up a shortlist and members will be able to vote for the winner online or at the branch meeting on Thursday 8 January 2026. It will be held at the Olde Man and Scythe on Churchgate, Bolton.

Good Beer Guide

We are also approaching the time when the branch selects its entries for the Good Beer Guide 2027. The full process for selecting the pubs to go into the Good Beer Guide is set out on the branch website here, but the starting point is an analysis of the beer scores submitted by members over the previous year. Each year we start from scratch and those pubs which have scores higher than the branch average will make up the initial shortlist. This will then be reviewed by members at the January Branch Meeting with the final selection taking place at the February Meeting. The branch has an allocation of thirteen entries into the guide but we have many more pubs and clubs whose scores don’t quite make the grade or do not have enough scores to qualify. If you believe your favourite pub deserves to be in the Good Beer Guide then there’s still time to submit scores before the cut-off at the end of the year. Find out how you can submit scores by clicking here.

Christmas Social

The branch will be holding its traditional trip to Chorley on 27 December, an excellent way to relax after all the festive excitement. We will be meeting at the Malt ‘n’Hops near Chorley station at 13.00 and then taking in some of the fantastic pubs Chorley has to offer. More details on the branch website here.

Finally, I would like to wish all our members and their loved ones a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year. Although we can enjoy our pubs and clubs all year round, Christmas is a special time to pop out to your local to meet friends and family and raise a glass or two of festive cheer.

Cheers!

John Mitchell – Chair