Category: Branch News

Travel to Wigan by bus or train depending on which is easiest. We will meet in Wigan Central at around 13.00 for a beer or two before visiting some, or all, of the pubs listed below. If catching the train from Bolton Station trains leave at 12.32 or 12.48 arriving 12.49 and 13.06 respectively (off peak return fare £6.80). If you have a bus pass with the trains added the fare is free.  Catch the 575 bus from Bolton at 11.50 (12.10) calling at the Crown, Horwich at 12.17 (12.37) arriving in Wigan at 12.53 (13.13) Later bus in brackets

Wigan Central, Arch No. 1 and 2, Queen Street, WN3 4DY. 7 changing ales

Swan & Railway, 80 Wallgate, WN1 1BA, 7 handpumps with 5 changing beers

Real Crafty, 9 Upper Dicconson Street, WN1 2AD, 5 changing beers

There are plenty of other pubs in Wigan, so this list is just suggestions. Alternately those on the 575 bus can call at The Colliers Arms, Aspull on the way back to Horwich and Bolton. The bus stops

The Colliers Arms, 192 Wigan Road, Aspull, WN2 1DU. Escape Brewery Tap with 4 Escape cask beers. The bus stop is close to the Pub.

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

Well, ’tis the season to be jolly and I hope you have been able to enjoy a pint or two of Christmas cheer in the run up to the big day.

Christmas Social

A reminder that the branch will be making its now traditional trip to Chorley on 28 December. We will be meeting at the Malt ‘n’ Hops near the station at 13.00. After that we will move on to visit some of the many excellent pubs Chorley has to offer. Full details are available on the branch website here.

Season of Goodwill

At this time of parties and celebrations let’s not forget the wider role pubs play in the community. Pubs have an essential part to play in combatting isolation and loneliness, bringing communities together and supporting personal wellbeing. Visiting your local pub or club over the festive season and beyond will ensure that these vital community hubs are able to continue to do their part for those in need in our communities. If there’s someone you know who might be feeling a little lonely or isolated, why not invite them along too?

Tryanuary

Notwithstanding the increase in trade in December, January is still a tough time for pubs, clubs and small breweries. Why not use the turning of the new year as an opportunity to try something different from your usual tipple. There will still be plenty of seasonal beers on offer from our local brewers. The new CAMRA website now has much more information about the beers available in our local pubs and clubs to help you find something new. Don’t forget to score the beers too.

If you’re tempted to have a break from alcohol after the excesses of the festive season, that’s no reason not to go to your local. Most places now offer a wide range of low and no-alcohol options, many brewed by small independent brewers. Maybe give them a try.

January Branch Meeting

The next branch meeting will be held at 8 p.m. on 9 January at the Ukrainian Social Club 99 Castle Street, Bolton, BL2 1JP. As always, everyone is welcome. At this meeting we will be reviewing the longlist of pubs to go forward for selection for the Good Beer Guide 2026.

Finally, I would like to wish all our members and their loved ones a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year. Although a pub is not just for Christmas, it is still a great time to get down to your local to meet friends and family and raise a glass or two of locally brewed real ale, cider or perry.

Cheers!

John Mitchell – Chair

December Branch Meeting

Just a reminder that the December Branch Meeting will be held at 8.00 p.m. this Thursday 5 December at the Olde Man and Scythe, Churchgate, Bolton BL1 1HL. There will be a short business meeting followed by a social evening moving on to wherever the consensus takes us. This will be the last meeting of 2024 and we wil be considering the timetable for choosing our entries for the Good Beer Guide 2026 and how this then leads into the Pub of the Year competition. 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. 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.

Annual General Meeting

The Branch AGM took place on 7 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. 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 Brewery Liaison Officers also informed the meeting about developments at Bolton’s various breweries.

Socials

Hot on the heels of Thursday’s Branch Meeting is our next social which will take place on Saturday 7 December. Meet at 1.00 p.m. at One for the Road in Bolton Market before heading out the the Kings Arms in Farnworth and returning to Bolton Town Centre later. Full details on the Branch website here.

Late Night Levy

The Council has been trying to introduce a Late Night Levy for a couple of years. The idea is that establishments which open between 3 and 6 a.m. should pay a levy which will contribute to the costs of policing. Despite objections from Bolton CAMRA on a number of points, including adding further costs to already struggling businesses and the amounts collected being minimal, the Council has voted to go ahead with the scheme which will take effect in February. This will affect licensed premises and takeaways in Bolton town centre. We will have to see what impact this has on the night time economy in the town.

Winter Beers

To go along with the darker nights we are beginning to see some festive brews appearing on the bars of our local pubs. These too are often darker and a little stronger to insulate you from the cold and miserable weather. I hope you are able to sample some of these seasonal treats in the run up to Christmas. The CAMRA website has lots of information on what beers are available in our pubs to help you track them down. This is easily accessible from the opening page here and allows you to score the beers too. 

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 Central Lancs Day Rider costs £5.90 which would allow a stop off in Horwich on the way home if required. Bus times 11.59 (12.14) arriving in Chorley at 12.53(13.08). Catching the bus in Horwich outside the Ale House the times are 12.25 (12.40)

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

In the Dog House (previously Ale Station), 60 Chapel St. PR7 1BS, 2 regilar, 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

Ronnie’s 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

Meet at One for the Road in the Market at 1.00pm. We will leave to catch the no. 36 Diamond bus to The Kings Arms. Afterwards catch the bus back to Bolton and visit two more pubs to be decided. The Kings Arms opens at 2.30.

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

Hopefully The Greyhound is opening soon but no date as yet. If by any chance the pub is open, we will visit before going to Farnworth.

The Kings Arms, 2 Mossfield Road, Farnworth, BL4 0AB, 4 changing ales

Great Ale at the Vaults, Vaults Below Market Place, BL1 2AL, 2 changing ales.

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

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

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

The cider trail will start in Westhoughton where we visit the Blackedge Brewery Tap and The Beer School.  Moving on to Horwich we visit B33R@33 and The Blackedge Brewery Bar. After Horwich for those catching the bus back to Bolton it would be good to stop at Bunburys on Chorley Old Road.

Meet at the Brewery Tap in Westhoughton 1pm

Travelling from Bolton catch the 520 bus from the Interchange at 12.25 arriving in Westhoughton 12.52. There is also the option of a train from Bolton which runs regularly.

Travelling from Horwich catch 516 bus at 12.31 at Horwich bottom of Brownlow Road arriving in Market Street Westhoughton at 13.08. This bus runs every hour.

The Brewery Tap, 55 Market St. BL5 3AG, a good selection of real cider.

The Beer School, 88 Market St. BL5 3AZ, 4 real ciders.

Catch the bus to Horwich14.38 arriving in Horwich at 15.15

B33R@33, 33 Lee Lane, BL6 7AX cider on handpump and bag-in-box

Brewery Bar, Moreton Mill, Hampson Street, BL6 7JH, a selection of ciders on handpump and bag-in-box

Other pubs we could visit

Victoria & Albert, 141 Lee Lane, BL6 7AF, real cider and perry available

Sparrows Rum bar, , 32 Winter Hay Lane, BL6 7AA,

Catch the 125 bus from Horwich to Bolton and call at for a cider at Bunbury’s

Bunbury’s, 397 Chorley Old Road, BL1 6AH, bag-in-box 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

Our local social this time will take us to Horwich. We have some pubs that have opened in the past few months and are selling real ale. Catch the 125 bus to meet at the Bank Top Ale House at 1.00pm. Obviously the Ale House and Crown are not recently open, but both are worth a visit.

Bank Top Ale House, 36 Church St. BL6 6AD. A good selection of cask ale

JR’s Ale House, 176 Chorley New Road (could catch the 575 or 576 from Bolton to meet here approx. 1.45-2.00) A good selection of cask ales

Sparrows Rum Bar, 32 Winter Hay Lane, BL6 7AA, 2 cask ales

Victoria & Albert, 141 Lee Lane, BL6 7AF, 6 handpumps

Tails & Ale, 141 Lee Lane, BL6 7AG. 3 changing cask ales

Crown, 1 Chorley New Road, BL6 7QJ, 4 regular cask ales from Holts and 4 changing cask ales.

We will be visiting some of the well known pubs when we include Horwich in the Cider Trail

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

Annual General Meeting

Just a reminder that the branch’s AGM will be held at 8.00 p.m. on Thursday 7 November at the Spinning Mule, Nelson Square, Bolton BL1 1JT. Amongst other things, the meeting will be electing the branch officers to serve for the next twelve months. The list of current officers can be found on the branch website here and each of the officers has confirmed that they are willing to continue in their roles. That does not, however, prevent any other member from standing for those roles if they wish. In addition to the areas which are already covered, there are other roles which are vacant and for which nominations would be welcomed.

Like all branches, Bolton’s membership is weighted toward the older end of the spectrum and a Young Members’ Contact could help us to attract more younger people to the branch. I have also mentioned before that we have many clubs in the borough about which we hold very little information so a Clubs Co-ordinator who could gather this information and promote real ale in our clubs would be a boon. Click on the role description links to find out what’s involved. 

Budget

After what seemed like an eternity, the budget has finally happened and it was a mixed bag so far as the hospitality industry is concerned. CAMRA welcomes the one penny per pint cut in draught beer and cider duty, but given the price of a pint, I’m not sure drinkers will notice. A review of the business rates system was promised which, if it is done right, is also welcome, but the reduction in the business rates support from 75% to 40% from next April is bound to have an impact. 

The government also announced its intention to bring in measures to make it easier for small brewers to get their beers on the bar in pubs although how this is to be achieved is not yet clear.

It’s fair to say that the industry itself was not so impressed with the budget, citing concerns about the increases in the living wage and National Insurance having an impact on their costs.

How all this is reflected in the price of a pint and the choice of beer on the bar remains to be seen.

Champion Beer of Britain

Nominations for the Champion Beer of Britain 2026 close on Monday 4 November. Don’t miss your chance to put forward your favourite local or national beers for this prestigious prize. You can vote on the CAMRA website by clicking here.

Local MPs

Last week I had the opportunity to meet Phil Brickell, the recently elected MP for Bolton North East. Over a beer in the Bank Top Brewery Ale House, our current Pub of the Year, we talked about the budget, planning protection for pubs and competition issues. Phil was very sympatheitic to CAMRA’s concerns and is willing to raise them in Parliament on our behalf. I hope to get the chance to speak to our other two MPs soon.

CAMRA Website

The new CAMRA website, currently dubbed ‘the CAMRA Experience’ is now live and feedback on how it is working is welcomed. The site has pubs front and centre, with much more information about the beers available in those pubs. Some changes have been made to the way beer scoring is done and I will let you have more information about this next time. We will also update the guidance on the branch website. In the meantime you can still use the old WhatPub site which will be available for a while.  Beer scoring is a subject I mention frequently, but it is important as it forms the basis of how pubs are chosen for the Good Beer Guide. 

Well, it’s getting to that time of year when a pint in a warm pub or club is a welcome retreat from the colder weather and the darker evenings, so why not pull on your big coat, brave the elements and find out what treats your local has to offer in this season of mists and mellow fruitfulness?

Cheers!

John Mitchell – Chair