of Pub season WINTER 2021 the
Lostock Ale LOSTOCK HALL
T
he opening of Lostock Hall’s first micropub in January 2020 was exciting news and has proved to be a great addition to the real ale scene in the village. For landlord, Ray McLaughlin this was a fresh venture, and no-one could have predicted just how challenging it would be, as months later we saw the arrival of the pandemic and first lockdown. The opportunity to run his own pub was not something he’d necessarily had much time to think about over the years, as by day he’d worked as a gas engineer and by night, a doorman in Preston’s city centre. He did the latter for over 20 years, and it was through his contacts there that he was offered his first opportunity to run a pub, Barney’s Piano Bar on Church Street. In his own words, this was a “baptism of fire”, as he’d never worked behind a bar or even collected glasses before, but undeterred he decided to give it a go and no doubt learned a huge amount along the way. However, Barney’s had never played a significant role in the real ale scene in Preston and maybe this was a contributory factor in Ray returning to his day job… as a life-long fan of real ale there was clearly something more exciting around the corner! This is Following retirement a few years later it was his son who suggested he consider great, thank running his own micropub. Unlike taking over you! What a traditional pub there’s no real “blueprint” in place and a whole host of things to consider a great not least the location/venue, planning accolade to applications and timing, but when the unit on Hope Terrace in the heart of Lostock Hall came receive. This available in 2019 this proved to be too good gives me the an opportunity to miss and the business of enthusiasm setting up Lostock Ale began. From first opening it was clear that this to raise the was a genuine free house with a landlord who bar in my wanted to give his customers a social venue where they could sample some great ales from quest for around the country, particularly from northexcellence. west breweries and with six handpumps across the bar there was something to cater for all tastes. This started out as a single-roomed Ray McLaughlin pub, but space was limited particularly at the are anything to go by Ray is setting about redefining the word weekends so despite several lockdowns, business was going well “micropub” and his drive to develop the business is clear for all to and a pavement license was successfully applied for, expanding the see, as is the charitable nature of the customers, the pub having venue. However, not one to stop there, later in 2021 Ray successfully already raised £500 for Macmillan Cancer Support through a coffee took over the unit next door, previously the home of Age Concern, providing a large room that can be used either as a function room or morning and £300 for Derian House Children’s Hospice through donations from Santa’s grotto. for additional customer seating at busier times, with a raised stage Despite challenging times Lostock Ale continues to go from area also planned to accommodate live music events. strength to strength and is a truly deserving recipient of the This is a real community-focused pub at the heart of the village, Central Lancs CAMRA Pub of the Season Award for Winter 2021. and the function room is already attracting interest from a wide We wish Ray and the staff all the very best for the future and range of local organisations including guide dogs training, a group look forward to formally presenting the award in the New Year. for deaf and hard of hearing (following the closing of Deafway) and local councillors, to name just a few. If the last 18 months RICHARD LANGFORD
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Ale Cry
ISSUE 127 WINTER 2021
