PRESTON PARADE
I
t has been a long time since we last had a chance to let you know what has been going on in Preston. The last Ale Cry came out in March 2020, so what have we gained and what have we lost in that time? Well, we seem to have survived the pandemic quite well, with relatively few pubs permanently closed, and quite a few new bars opening. FISHERS, on Church Street seems to have gone, it never reopened after lockdown ended and while it had not sold real ale for a while, it is another one lost. Apart from that, nothing else has closed completely in the centre, but there are pubs and bars where real ale was once available, who seemingly have given up and it will not feature. YATES, near Fishers is being refurbished yet again and will reopen as a “Slug and Lettuce”, a brand that does not usually bother with real ale. What is more surprising is what has happened to the ADELPHI pub, slap bang in the centre
of the “University” district. It has had a massive makeover, with £350,000 spent on it, yet there is no place for real ale. Painted in a blue hue with a mural on one wall, they must imagine students will be attracted to it. Real ale drinkers need not despair, for there is plenty to attract them to this area, both in existing pubs and new micropubs that have and will appear in proximity to the Uni. Besides the VINYL TAP, just up Adelphi St. and the GUILD pub on Fylde road, both of which sell a changing range of guest beers, there is, on the corner of Moor Lane a former bank that, if all things go to plan will open as a new bar, BIER BOX. This will be a sister pub to
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Ale Cry
ISSUE 127 WINTER 2021
Beer Box in Bamber Bridge, with a more continental feel, and when it comes to fruition, it will hopefully show the Adelphi what they are missing out on. Not a hundred yards away, up Friargate is the latest addition to the real ale scene in Preston, the FRIARGATE TAP ROOM. Opened by the same people who have the Tulketh Tap Room (more of which later), it is under the supervision of bar manager Alys, who knows her stuff and is keen on real ale. Three cask beers are on sale and they are ever changing. Alys wants to have a variety of different beers appearing. The micropub has a modern feel and is open 2–11 Mon– Wed. Other days it opens at noon, closing at 11.30 on Thurs, 10pm Sun and 1am Fri and Sat. No food is served, but you are welcome to bring your own food in. Dog friendly, there is ample seating and even a small outside drinking area to the rear. Sky Sports live football is shown on unobtrusive TV’s. In our last issue 18 months ago we mentioned three microbars that were then in the planning stages and where we had little idea what they would be like. They have all now opened, so we have had a chance to go and investigate. The TULKETH TAP ROOM, at the junction at Lane Ends, sells four changing cask ales, has outside decking to the front and a beer garden to the rear. Inside is a
mixture of upholstered and high chairs. Mon–Wed it is open 2–11, otherwise it opens at midday till eleven and 10 on Sundays. It can get busy at times. The other micro in this area is the TAP END, on Blackpool Rd. just along from the Lane Ends pub. This is a more low key bar where the aura is one of conversation, deliberately so, making it a good meeting place for locals and strangers alike. Dark wood and metal with subdued lighting adds to the overall effect. Currently with 3 handpumps dispensing a variety of ales, this could increase as business builds after the pandemic is over. It opens at 4pm Mon–Fri, Midday at weekends, closing at 9 Mon–Thurs, 10pm Fri–Sat, and 9 Sun. The third micro we told you about finally opened in July 2020. It is the CRAFTY BEGGARS, up Garstang Road, almost opposite the Black
