Category: Branch News

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

Meet at One for the Road in the Market at 1.00pm. We will visit some regulars and some pubs we don’t visit often.

One for the Road, Stalls F14 to F15 Ashburner Street Lifestyle Hall, BL1 1TJ, 2 changing ales

The Greyhound, 146 Deansgate, Bolton, BL1 1BB, 3 changing beers

The Elephant and Castle, 4-10 Deansgate, Bolton, BL1 1BR, 2 regular and 2 changing beers

Olde Man and Scythe, 6-8 Churchgate, Bolton, BL1 1HL,

Northern Monkey Bar, Nelson Square, BL1 1AQ, 4 changing beers

These are just four pubs. We can discuss others to visit on the day. If anyone has a suggestion of pubs to visit please let us know on the day

It is important that we support our local pubs and be seen to support them. Therefore, if you have a CAMRA t shirt or polo shirt, please wear it if you can.

If you need information on the day, please contact Gill on 07967585670

Welcome to your latest Bolton CAMRA Branch Update. The nights are well and truly drawing in and you may be finding it takes just a bit more determination to get your big coat on and head to the pub, but it’ll be worth it. A warm welcome on a cold night with a pint of cask ale or cider is a wonderful treat around Halloween.

Annual General Meeting

This time of year also heralds the Bolton Branch Annual General Meeting. This will take place at 8.00pm on 13 November 2025 at the Spinning Mule, Nelson Square Bolton BL1 1JT. You should have already received the formal notice of the meeting but this is your opportunity to have a say on how the Bolton Branch operates. Branch Officers will give their reports on the past year’s activities and there will be votes for all the branch positions. A list of the current holders of the positions can be found on the Contacts page of the branch website and each has indicated their willingness to continue in those roles. It is, however, open to any member to stand for election to any role.

In addition, there are a number of roles in the branch which remain vacant and we would welcome nominations for these positions. Among these are the Young Members Contact and Clubs Coordinator, two roles which would really enhance the branch’s effectiveness. Some of the branch officers hold more than one position and any help to spread the burden would be valued. Come along to the AGM if you want to get involved.

Budget

This year’s budget will be delivered on 26 November. CAMRA, along with other organisations representing the hospitality industry, is calling on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to introduce concrete measures to support our pubs. You can help by emailing your MP, asking them to write to the Chancellor urging her to ease the financial pressures on these vital community assets. 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 use the Budget to support consumers, licensees and breweries.

Pubs Under Threat

Many of you will have visited the Marble Arch on Rochdale road, Manchester – one of the North West’s classic heritage pubs with its own brewery.  It has come to light that developers are planning to build two tower blocks of 15 & 17 stories directly adjacent to the Marble Arch – not just nearby but literally butting up to the pub’s northern wall. Marble Beers have approached CAMRA to ask for our assistance in ensuring the developers are left with no doubt how unacceptable these plans are. Our Greater Manchester area organiser Sarah Hopes has agreed that we will back this campaign. CAMRA’s national planning advisor Paul Ainsworth is also backing the campaign. You can read the article published by the ilovemanchester.com website here: https://ilovemanchester.com/marble-arch-development-face-off.

I will let you know how the campaign goes.

Closer to home, a planning application to convert the former Ben’s at the Legion in Blackrod into flats has been submitted to Bolton Council. This pub, one of the few remaining in the centre of the village, closed earlier in the year with the licensee citing a lack of footfall as the main reason for closure. The branch has submitted an objection to the application but, given Bolton Council currently has no policies in place to protect pubs in the borough, it would be an uphill struggle to save this venue. If there is anyone out there who would like to help change planning policy in Bolton to give more protection to pubs and ensure the vital role they play in the community continues, please drop me a line on chair@bolton.camra.org.uk

Learn and Discover

You may have heard of CAMRA’s education platform Learn and Discover. Its purpose is to help CAMRA members and the public learn more about beer, cider and pubs. The content is varied with articles on everything from community orchards and beer ingredients to the regulation of the brewing industry, aimed at different levels from beginners through enthusiasts to connoisseurs. Some of the information is available free to anyone but some of the more specialised content is avaible only to CAMRA members. Click here to browse what’s available and hopefully something will grab your interest. 

As mentioned above, one of the reasons cited for the closure of Ben’s at the Legion was a lack of footfall causing financial difficulties. We’ve all heard the phrase ‘us it or lose it’ but that resonates more than ever in these difficult times when pubs and clubs are really struggling. So, put on that big coat, brave the the autumn weather and get down to your local to make sure that next spring, it’s not just another statistic that used to be a great British pub.

Cheers!

John Mitchell – Chair

The 125 bus runs from Bolton Interchange every 15 minutes. 125 buses leave Bolton Interchange from stand P regularly with the journey taking just under one hour.  A Lancashire Day Rider costs 9.70. which would allow a stop off in Horwich on the way home if required. Bus times 11.55 (12.10) arriving in Chorley at 12.50(13.05). Catching the bus in Horwich outside the Ale House the times are 12.22 (12.38)

Meet at the Malt’n’Hops at 13.00 where sandwiches and pies are available at very reasonable prices.

Malt’n’Hops, 50-52 Friday Street, PR6 0AA – 7 changing ales

Shepherd’s Hall Ale House,  67 Chapel Street, PR7 1BS – 8 changing ales

Inn the Dog House (previously Ale Station), 60 Chapel St. PR7 1BS, 2 regular, 3 changing ales

Nelipots, 53 Chapel Street, PR7 1BU – 2 changing ales

Bob Inn, 24 Market Place, PR7 1DA –  3 real ales, 1 real cider

Flat Iron, (formerly Market Tavern), 21 Cleveland Street, PR7 1BH – 3 real ales, 1 cider

Ronnies Bar, 37 Chapel St. PR7 1BU, 4 changing ales.

Shed & Garden, 9 Fazakerley St. PL7 1BG,3 changing ales.

We don’t intend to visit all the pubs, but we can select those we want to visit. Maybe there is one I haven’t mentioned that other know about and deserves a visit.

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 are late with the Cider Trail again this year but better late than never. We will meet in Westhoughton at Blackedge Brewery Tap at around 1.00pm. From Horwich the 516 bus runs every hour. Catch the bus at 12.35 at Horwich Leisure centre arriving in Westhoughton at 13.08. Return bus for Horwich is 14.37 arriving in Horwich 15.12.

Travelling from Bolton catch the 607 bus from the Interchange at 12.20(12.40) arriving at 12.45 (13.07)

Brewery Tap, 55 Market St. BL5 3AG, real cider on three handpumps

Beer School, 88 Market St. BL5 3AZ, up to four ciders

B33R@33, 33 Lee Lane, BL6 7AX, real cider

Sparrows Rum Bar, 32 Winter Hey Lane, BL6 7AA, 2 real ciders

Blackedge Brewery Bar, Moreton Mill, Hampson St. BL6 7JH, real cider

There are other pubs. If there is a favourite let the group know. Although this is a cider trail don’t let that put anyone off who does not like cider. All the pubs mentioned have a good selection of real ale. 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