Swiggin in Wiggin - Issue 3 - Aug/Sept/Oct 2014

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The magazine from the Wigan branch of The Campaign for Real Ale

August to October

2014

WIGAN’S NEW MARTLAND MILL BREWERY

SITTING IN THE SHADOWS OF THE GIANT HEINZ DISTRIBUTION DEPOT

In this Issue...

• CLUB OF THE YEAR STANDISH UNITY CLUB • HOME & AWAY - BARRY’S TRAVELS TO HULL • SOCIAL TRIP TO MACCLESFIELD

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+ Much More...

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August - October 2014

Branch Contacts Chairperson: Pete Marsh e: chair@wigancamra.org.uk Vice-Chairperson: Ken Worthington e: vicechair@wigancamra.org.uk Branch Secretary: Lynda Gibson e: secretary@wigancamra.org.uk Treasurer: Brian Gleave e: treasurer@wigancamra.org.uk Membership Secretary: Shaun Ashton e: membership@wigancamra.org.uk Pubs Officer: Donald Appleton e: pubs@wigancamra.org.uk Public Affairs Officer: Robin Gibson e: public@wigancamra.org.uk Pubs Heritage Officer: Pete Marsh e: heritage@wigancamra.org.uk Young Members Officer: Joanna Whalley e: young@wigancamra.org.uk Social Secretary: Roy Pearson e: social@wigancamra.org.uk Cider Officer: Carol Worthington e: c/o vicechair@wigancamra.org.uk Contributors to this edition: Ken Worthington, Carol Worthington, Dave White, Alan Wass, Shaun Ashton, Julie Atha, Jo Whalley, Barry Seale, Stuart Hurst and Roy Pearson.

Web: Twitter:

www.wigancamra.org.uk @WiganCAMRA

The Editor reserves the right to amend or shorten contributions for publication. All editorial copyright © Wigan CAMRA 2014 Disclaimer: Views expressed in this publication are those of their individual authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Editor, branch committee or the Campaign for Real Ale nationally. Wigan CAMRA accepts no liability in relation to the accuracy of advertisements; readers must rely on their own enquiries. It should also be noted that acceptance of an advertisement in this publication should not be deemed an endorsement of quality by Wigan CAMRA.

Campaign for Real Ale Ltd. - www.camra.org.uk 230 Hatfield Road, St. Albans, Herts, AL1 4LW t: 01727 867 201 e: camra@camra.org.uk

MESSAGE FROM THE VICE CHAIR PUBS MATTER...

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n my last message I mentioned the threats posed by high rents and beer price hikes as contributing to the closure of many pubs. The problem is that once a pub shuts it can become the target of land developers and some supermarket and convenience store chains. We must recognise this danger. Our community pubs matter and deserve to be protected and although we as CAMRA members recognise this, the challenge we are facing is ensuring that the Government does too. Weak planning laws mean pubs in England can be demolished or converted to mini supermarket stores, estate agents and pay-day loan stores without a planning application.

With two pubs being converted to mini supermarket stores every week, it is time to take a stand. We need to pile the pressure on Government to make a simple change to planning law so any demolition or change of use of a pub would need a planning application – giving local people the say they deserve in the future of their neighbourhoods. Please lobby your MP now to join our calls for Government to act.

There is a petition urging the Government to change planning law. We urge EVERYONE to sign it – you do not have to be a CAMRA member to sign, just someone who cares about the future of our pubs. The petition can be found at: www.epetitions.direct.gov. uk/petitions/66572 This is just the beginning of a powerful new CAMRA campaign to persuade the Government to act and protect our pubs. Please sign the petition!

Ken Worthington

Vice Chair / Editor of this issue, Wigan CAMRA

PUBLISHED BY Capital Media Group 2 Halifax Court, Fernwood Business Park, Cross Lane, Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, NG24 3JP t: 01636 302 302 e: swiggin@thisiscapital.com www.thisiscapital.com © 2014 Capital Media Group. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be transmitted, reproduced, recorded, photocopied or otherwise without the express written permission of the copyright holder.

August - October 2014

IN THE NEXT EDITION...

• More updates on the beer from Wigan’s latest brewery - Martland Mill • Reports on social trips to Swan with Two Necks, Saltaire and Huddersfield • Information on forthcoming FREE pub survey trips • IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON LOCALE 2015

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WIGAN CAMRA CLUB OF THE YEAR STANDISH UNITY CLUB

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ISH UNI D N

Saturdays. Entertainment is offered every Thursday.

Obviously a Good Beer Guide listed ‘pub’ which usually holds a beer festival in March shortly after ours. Non members are made very welcome.

There are normally four cask beers available.

The house beer is from Prospect.

U P CO M ING EVENTS

CLUB TY

THE ST A

nce again Wigan CAMRA voted the Standish Unity Club as it’s Club of the Year. The Standish Unity Club is an independent, non-profit making establishment. It is a place where people of all ages both young and old can meet for a quiet drink and chat or an evening out.

The Club, which opened 11 years ago, has a large function room, a games room with a full size snooker table, pool table, darts and dominoes and also a cosy lounge room. It has won the Wigan CAMRA’s Cask Ale Club of the Year for the last 5 years.

It is open from 19:30 each evening until 11pm Sunday to Thursday and midnight Fridays and

THE LANKY KATS - ROCK N ROLL Every 1st & 3rd Thursday of the month

SOUL / MOTOWN NIGHTS

Every 2nd Thursday of the month Small door charge applicable

SEE WEBSITE FOR FURTHER EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS

5 CASK ALES ON AT ALL TIMES

FROM VARIOUS BREWERIES, COMPETITIVE PRICES Full Size Snooker Table • Pool Table • Darts • Dominoes Cosy Lounge Room Large Function Room Available to Hire - Fri/Sat/Sun All bookings require a refundable deposit

Winner of CAMRA Club Of The Year 2010,11,12, 13 & 14 Runner-up Greater Manchester Regional Club Of The Year 2012, 13 & 14

Cross Street, Standish, Wigan, WN6 0HQ t: (01257) 424007 | e: standish.unity@standishunityclub.com www.standishunityclub.com 4

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Opening Times Sun - Thurs 7:30 pm - 11 pm Fri & Sat 7:30 pm - 12 am August - October 2014

WIGAN CAMRA SUMMER PUB OF THE SEASON THE SILVER TALLY

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onday 7th July saw the presentation of our Summer Pub of the Season award to licensee Alison Rainey at the Silver Tally, Shevington Moor, Standish which is owned by Patsy Slevin the brewster at the Prospect Brewery and is the Prospect Brewery Tap. The pub, formerly the Foresters Arms, re-opened after significant but tasteful refurbishment on 3rd June 2012 and won the Wigan branch Best New Cask Outlet award for 2012/13. It operates a ‘reverse-tie’ with Thwaites Brewery which allows the licensee a free reign to supply beers from any brewery as long as they stock one Thwaites beer which is often the

excellent Wainwrights. In addition to a wide selection of Prospect beers (naturally) and a varied range of guests like Fyne ales Jarl or offerings from Magic Rock or Hand Drawn Monkey the pub also offers a real cider.

This dog-friendly pub has also held beer festivals (3 so far) which have been very popular. The pub has a car park and nearby on street parking.

They serve breakfast, lunches and evening meals and have a children’s menu. Every Tuesday is quiz night at 9pm (with free refreshments to feed those brain cells!) and on other evenings there is a good selection of bar games to pass the time.

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MACCLESFIELD & RED WILLOW BREWERY A SOCIAL TRIP

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he second social outing of the year saw us heading back down to M6 but this time we were heading for the leafy lanes of Cheshire rather than the urban sprawl of the Potteries.

The sun broke out just as we reached our first port-of-call at Spring Bank Farm in the small village of Arclid. Although a herd of bullocks drew plenty of attention, the main purpose of our visit was to drink beer… in Merlin Brewery, which is housed in a farm out-building. Although, we only had a short stop-over we were warmly welcomed by the owners, David and Sue Peart. A small bar provided us with a choice of 3 beers, all served from handpump, at just £2 a pint.

All beers were on excellent form and we could easily have stayed a lot longer.

Next stop was Red Willow Brewery in Macclesfield for a brewery tour and beer sampling.

Our host was Toby Mckenzie, owner and head brewer. For two hours, Toby kept us entertained with his wit, expertise and enthusiasm for beer, whilst we sampled his beers from casks, bottles and even straight out of the fermentor.

After the brewery tour, we then headed off to the brewery tap, also called Red Willow, in the centre of Macclesfield. Here we socialised with members of the Rochdale, Oldham and Bury CAMRA Branch who had also visited the brewery earlier in the day.

With five Good Beer Guide pubs within a 10-minute walk, there were plenty of other watering holes to keep our

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party occupied. Quite a few of us took advantage of the pre-booked ‘cinema’ room in the Park Tavern to watch Latics take on Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final. Despite the disappointing football result, the excellent Bollington beers kept our spirits raised.

All too soon, it was time for our hardy souls to board the coach for the journey back home.

A good time was had by all.

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A family & community pub situated in Orrell near the beautiful Waterpark. Now boasting a new modern look whilst retaining a homely character & charm.

• 4 Ever-changing Real Ale Pumps • Fresh Homecooked Food • Extensive Menu • Chef Specials Board • Function Room - Please enquire for details Booking is advisable - Give us a call to book your table

OPENING TIMES Mon & Tues: 4pm - Late Weds & Thurs: 12 noon - 12am Fri & Sat: 12 noon - 1am Sun: 12 noon - 12am

FOOD SERVED Weds - Fri: 12 noon - 2.30pm & 5pm - 8.30pm Sat: 12 noon - 8.30pm Sun: 12 noon - 7pm

Sandy Lane, Orrell Wigan, WN5 7AZ tel: 01942 511859

www.robinhoodorrell.co.uk

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@RobinHoodOrrell

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WIGAN’S NEWEST BREWERY: MARTLAND MILL IT’S REALLY NOT GRIM UP NORTH!

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t’s always an exciting time when a new beer is brewed, even more so when it’s by a new brewery.

Introducing Paul and Delia Wood, the founders and brewers of up-and-coming new brewery Martland Mill, the latest addition to Wigan’s already thriving brewing reputation.

Paul Wood left the business of joinery and began work on his new brewery, with the intention of bringing great tasting hand crafted English Ales to our lips. His passion for the trade and enthusiasm for Real Ale gives us an insight into the care and dedication he will be putting into each of his brews.

Paul has voluntarily studied brewing with some of the greatest local breweries, Bank Top Brewery in Bolton and Burscough Brewery in Burscough, plus other micro-breweries further afield. Learning how to take his home brewing skills to the next level and produce great quality, great tasting ales on a much larger scale. Constant study of the different types of hops and malts has resulted in him devising numerous recipes of his own creation. You can be assured, Paul has definitely done his homework, the proof of which will be in that long awaited first taste. Delia shares Paul’s passion for Real Ale and she intends to brew alongside him, they both have a keen interest in brewing with English and New World hops and have been inspired by the diverse selection available to brewers today.

The brewery itself is a 7 Barrel plant with 3 fermenters, the previous brew kit of East Coast Brewery, Yorkshire. Paul has installed and overseen all aspects of the brewery’s progress and adapted it to his exact requirements for both efficiency and the potential for expansion. Paul and Delia will be hosting brewery trips and even plan to have a brewery tap on site to cater to visitors and enthusiasts, but for the moment their focus is on that important first brew.

The brewery is located on Martland Mill and owes its name to the history of the area, hence why the

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brewery’s first few brews will be named in association with mill history.

Paul intends to begin brewing July/August and wants to start by bringing us a 3.8-4.0% citrus pale ale called Spinners Gold. He then has plans to start producing his main range which will include Clog Maker and Lancashire Loom, both brewed with traditional ingredients. Once the main range is up and running, Paul intends to expand his festival and seasonal selection to include some darker beers and higher ABV’s.

Paul and Delia both have a keen passion for their brewery and what it will offer to their customers, and Paul wished for me to extend a Thank You to everyone who has helped him in his development.

With a special mention to Dave Sweeney and staff from Bank Top Brewery and John Hopkins from Burscough Brewery for their constant support and assistance throughout. Their willingness to share their expertise means that the brewing process can be imparted amongst enthusiasts, which means beer lovers get to taste a variety of different Real Ales.

More information on Martland Mill Brewery can be found on their website www.martlandmillbrewery. co.uk Here’s awaiting that first taste.

“Cheers – Keep it Real!” – Paul and Delia Wood Written by Jo Whalley, Young Members Officer and Brewery Liason Officer for Martland Mill Brewery

STOP PRESS

The first Martland Mil l brew was made on 11th July and is currently in the fermenters as this goes to press!

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BREWERY UPDATES LOCAL BREWERY NEWS

Problem Child www.problemchild brewing.co.uk

The brewery seems to have passed the ‘terrible twos’ stage now and all is reported to be going well at the brewery with increases in sales being made to external customers recently.

Prospect Brewery

All Gates Brewery

www.allgatesbrewery.com

www.prospectbrewery.com

The brewery are as usual brewing to capacity with their beer brewed specially for the World Cup, Great Boys, selling particularly well with probably the last of the batch well and truly gone by the time this has gone to press.

Allgates teamed with Wakefield’s Five Towns Brewery to brew Station to Station (5.6%) which has been successful and should be available in bottles very soon.

Experimental US hops are being used in the brewery’s 2 newest, yet to be named, brews and a welcome return is imminent for the popular Caskablanca which uses Australian Victoria hops Other newish beers following the recent mining theme have been Industrious Bee, named after the Busy Bee pit in Ince and is brewed using Maris Otter malts and English Target hops and their new brew due out in August is Summersales, named after an offshoot of Pemberton Colliery.

Finally Allgates are pleased to announce that 4 x 18s of their beer Gin Pit, a 4.3% saffron coloured beer with a spicy twist created by the addition of Juniper Berries, has been requested for inclusion at the Great British Beer Festival which is to be held at London Olympia in August.

The brewery bar has recently closed and Prospect is no longer selling offsales from their brewery though bottles and minicasks can be obtained from their pub the Silver Tally.

Patsy and John are looking for a second pub hinted that they had considered the Royal Oak in Standish Lower Ground. Final ‘i-dotting and t-crossing’ should be completed by the time this edition is published and details of the new premises should be public though it may get to September or later before it is ready to open.

The current brewery lease is up at the end of the year and so the Slevins are also looking for new brewing premises but in the meantime have reached an agreement with the landlord to extend their current lease so Prospect lovers need not fear their favourite beers will run dry!

Their latest seasonal beers are Oresome a 3.8% brew made using fresh lemons, Perle a 3.9% Golden hoppy beer and a new Ruby beer as yet unnamed is their July beer.

Prospect are now the official sponsors of Standish Cricket Club. The club will have Prospect beers on hand-pull at weekends when there is a home match and will always stock Prospect bottled beers.

Wellcross Brewing Co. @WellcrossBrewer

Little has been heard from the brewery within the branch though it is understood that one of their beers featured at the Eagle & Child Beer festival in May. Information which has just given to our BLO is that new brewing equipment is to be installed and beer production is expected to resume within the next couple of months.

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Coming soon...

Hophurst Brewery is a social Enterprise supporting and reskilling unemployed people, based at Hindley Business Centre. Aiming to produce quality innovative real ales in cask and bottles for the community to enjoy! The brewery system will be installed on 8th October 2014, first beers are hoped to be released at the end of November, available from the Swinley.

In the process of developing branding and a website, look out for a social media presence soon!

August - October 2014

Dochertys 14 UPPER DICCONSON STREET, WIGAN, WN1 2AD 01942 237877

Mayflower Brewery

5 Hand Pumps

Mayflower Douglas Valley, Bass and Tetleys plus 2 rotating guest pumps including beers from Weetwood, Dunscar Bridge, Facers and many more.

Wide selection of lagers, bottled beer and fine wines from 5 continents!

Opening Hours: Mon - Sat, 12pm - 11pm & Sun 12pm - 10.30pm

LIVE MUSIC EVERY SUNDAY August - October 2014

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SMALL FUNCTION ROOM AVAILABLE

MONTHLY QUIZ POOL DARTS www.wigancamra.org.uk

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FROM THE MISTS OF TIME A LOOK AT THE LOCAL PUB SCENE OF YESTERYEAR Thirty-five years ago The Turnkey Restaurant in King Street was converted into a pub called the Turnkey Cellars and began to sell real ale: Boddingtons mild and bitter on electric pumps.

The Oak Tree, Higher Ince reopened after extensive modernisation. Traditional Burtonwood mild and bitter survived the changes, but the inn lost its quintessential ‘pubness’.

Handpulled cask Wilsons mild and bitter replaced the keg versions at the Abbey Lakes, Orrell.

Thirty years ago South Lancs CAMRA (which later became the Wigan CAMRA branch) launched ‘1984 – The Road to Wigan Beer’. Incorporating Leigh, Ashton, Newton and districts, the guide was a bargain at 65p !

The Raven Hotel on Wallgate reopened after a minor facelift. The juke-box was louder and there was a bouncer on the door, which would have been unthinkable in Walter Baron’s day. The Walkers mild and best bitter were still on fine form, however.

Greenalls Original bitter could now be found at the Hand & Heart, Hindley and the White Swan, Lower Ince.

Twenty-five years ago Swings and roundabouts in Hindley. Matthew Brown reopened the Strangeways Hotel, but the disappearance of real ale meant that the Blackburn brewery had a 100% record of serving fizzy gunge in the Wigan branch area. Further up the A58, the Derby Arms now offered Marstons Pedigree (a first for Wigan) alongside cask Chesters bitter and Whitbread Trophy.

Real ale came to the Honeysuckle, Poolstock, in the form of handpumped Flowers IPA. Thomas Greenall’s Original Bitter could be found in the following outlets: the Fox Inn, Roby Mill; the Windmill Inn, Parbold; the Foresters Arms, 12

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Shevington Moor; the Red Lion, Abram; and the Crawford Arms, Crawford.

Twenty years ago The Bird i’th’ Hand, Hindley, took on Vaux Samson as a guest beer, which meant a real ale gain.

The Manley Hotel near Ince railway station reopened, serving the same beer at a very reasonable £1.20 a pint. Vaux bitter joined Samson at the Bispham Lodge, Billinge.

The Cherry Gardens, Marylebone, dropped cask Burtonwood mild due to poor sales, but the Running Horses in Orrell started selling it again. Both pubs served cask Burtonwood bitter.

The appearance of handpulled Tetley bitter and dark mild meant that real ale returned to the Lathom House Inn, Kitt Green, for the first time in many moons.

Fifteen years ago Lean times in Lower Ince with the recently reopened Shepherds Arms selling keg Thwaites beers. Meanwhile in Higher Ince, the Park Hotel was up for sale.

In Upholland, the Stanley went over to keg Greenalls beers. Thwaites got rid of the guest beers at the White Lion, replacing them with the brewery’s own seasonal ales.

The closed and boarded up tally now included the Britannia Hotel, Bryn and the Inn Between, Appley Bridge.

Ten years ago An article in the local press gave the impression that the Crown Hotel in Worthington was to be converted by its owners into luxury apartments.

However, the new licensees Tracy and Daniel Prince had in fact taken out a twenty-five year lease and hired a new chef. Fortunately, the local planning department had only given consent to convert the August - October 2014

building after the lease had been agreed, so the Crown’s future as a pub was safe.

Real ale came to the Jubilee Club, Ashton-inMakerfield, usually in the form of Taylors Landlord or Greene King IPA. The Black Bull in Standish reopened but remained, alas, on Burtonwood keg beers.

Five years ago Supermarket giant Tesco looked set to buy the long-closed Lady Bowes-Lyon in Beech Hill.

The Golden Lion, Ashton-in-Makerfield reopened as the Nag’s Head. No real ale.

Closed and boarded up pubs included the Bowling Green, Newtown; the Traveller’s Rest, Lamberhead Green; and the Strangeways Hotel, Hindley. The latter had only recently reopened as the Paddock (and has now been converted into flats).

Dave White

Greg & Jenny are delighted to welcome you

THE CROOKE HALL INN Crooke Village | Standish Lower Ground | Wigan | WN6 8LR | t: 01942 204451

Wigan CAMRA Pub of the Year & Community Pub of the Year 2014 ALLGATES CASK ALES ALWAYS AVAILABLE & REVOLVING GUEST ALES FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY • QUALITY FOOD SERVED 12 NOON - 8PM, 7 DAYS A WEEK

• Cellar Bar • Wood Burning Stoves • Beer Garden • Children's Play Area • Folk & Ukulele nights • Darts Teams • Wigan Pie Eaters Meet • Annual Beer, Boat & Music Festival

Beautiful canalside location August - October 2014

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@crookehallinn

Crooke-Hall-Inn

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HOME & AWAY BARRY’S TRAVELS

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any of our active CAMRA members opt to take days out to locations near and far to try out other real ale pubs and sample brews we might not often get in Wigan.

We have decided to encourage our members to write about their experiences in a new feature piece as and when space permits.

This piece is by Barry Seale – some of you may know him others may well know his face if not his name as besides his notoriety as a Wigan rugby fan Barry is famous for never being far away when someone points a camera!

BARRYS TRAVELS - HULL You may think Hull is a long way to go but well worth the journey as I found out! On arriving in Hull we made for the Minerva, situated on the river in view of the docks. A great vantage point to sit outside and watch the ships pass by. As this was early January some Christmas beers were still on with beers on offer being Yorkshire Classic at 4%, XXXXX Porter at 4.7% (New Forrest), Santa’s Tipple at 6% (Yorkshire Brewery), Tome Woods Xmas Cheer at 4.5%. The beers were on form and went down well accompanied by a nice lunch.

From here we headed for the old part of Hull town and a gem of a pub called The Lion and Key with ten beers and two ciders on offer. The beers came from Wentworth, Newsome, Tring, Kelham Island Brewery and Black Country Ales, we were spoilt for choice.

The pub dates back to 1812 when the Britannia coffee house stood on the site, it was renamed The Lion and Key when Wellington captured Ciudad Rodrigo. This town was considered to be the “key” to Spain and the pub sign outside has a British Lion with a large key in its paws.

From here we went over the road to Ye Olde Black Boy, premises which was formerly T. Linsey Wine and Spirit merchant and first licensed in 1729 and is Hull’s oldest licensed premises. Beers on offer were Saltaire Blond at 4%, HPA (Wye Valley), Hobgoblin, Deuchars IPA, Banks bitter and Tetley Bitter. They also had Old Rosie Cider.

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Our next port of call was a place called Hawkes which takes its name from William Hawkes, a gun maker who manufactured bespoke guns and rifles at the premises back in 1810. Beers on offer were Wentworth Plum Stout which at 4.7% is rich in flavour, Grafters Moonlight at 3.7%, Millstones Little John, Lions Pride and Kelham Island’s Riders Of The Storm. This pub was very popular when we visited, standing room only.

Just a short walk to our next pub Walters, named after Walter Wilberforce who owned and ran a barbers shop at the same premises in the 1820’s. This is a very large pub with a long bar that has seventeen hand pumps and is certainly one not to be missed. Come early if you want to try them all! There were five beers from Kelham Island, five from Wentworth, two from Newmans, three from Millstone, one from Brentwood and Old Cottage Stout from Burton… WOW! Just time for one more pint before we called it a day, so we made our way to the Old Bluebell which you enter through a narrow passageway to a cozy pub with Samual Smith Old Brewery Bitter waiting for us, nice, cheap and tasty.

There are a lot more pubs to sample and if you have got the time why not give Hull a try, like I did, it’s certainly worth a visit.

Barry Seale.

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Special Positions - £175 each Book 5 editions & receive 15% discount. Free design.

TO BOOK CALL CAPITAL MEDIA ON 01636 302 302 August - October 2014

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WIGAN CAMRA SPRING PUB OF THE SEASON THE HARE & HOUNDS

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igan CAMRA members voted their Pub of The Season for Spring 2014 as the Hare & Hounds in Hindley. This belongs to the Allgates chain of pubs and, as is a typical of their outlets, is a classic, family run, community ‘boozer’ with a welcoming warm and friendly atmosphere.

The Hare & Hounds is just 2 minutes walk from Hindley station and a similar distance from Hindley centre in the opposite direction. It is ‘small but perfectly formed’ as they say with two rooms, the bar or vault area with darts and dominoes and unassuming TV and a separate side lounge area with pleasant surroundings to sit and chat with a drink, also with TV.

LocAle UPDATE

The following local pubs are currently in the scheme: • • • • • • • • • • • •

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THE ANVIL - Dorning Street, WN1 1ND THE BERKELEY - Wallgate, WN1 1LD THE BOULEVARD - Wallgate, WN1 1LD BRICKMAKERS ARMS - Woodhouse Lane, Springfield, WN6 7LN BROCKET ARMS - Mesnes Road, Swinley, WN1 2DD CROOKE HALL INN - Crooke Road, Crooke, Standish Lower Ground, WN6 8LR CROWN HOTEL - Wigan Road, Aspull, WN2 1DP CROWN HOTEL - Platt Lane, Worthington, WN1 2XF DELPH TAVERN - Tontine Road, Orrell, WN5 8UJ EDINGTON ARMS - Ladies Lane, Hindley, WN2 2QJ GERRARD ARMS - Bolton Road, Aspull, WN2 1PZ HARE & HOUNDS - Upholland Road, Billinge, WN5 7JH

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There are five handpumps dispensing Allgates and guest ales. Outside, there is a small beer garden with ample covered area for poor weather conditions (smoking area). Live football and rugby shown on a big screen TV (afternoons/early evening) and a quiz night on Thursdays.

Branch Chairman Pete Marsh presented the award to manageress Adele Dunlop and her daughter Jessica who looks after the cask ales in the cellar (see photo). Pete said “This is a well deserved award for a community pub selling excellent real ales”.

Why not give this pub a try when you are next in the area they are open 4pm till midnight Monday to Friday and noon to midnight at weekends.

SEE ARTICLE ON TH PROPOSED CHANGE E THE LocAle SCHEM S TO E (Pg

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LocAle accreditation is awarded to pubs which pledge to always offer at least one locally brewed real ale on their bar

• HARE & HOUNDS - Ladies Lane, Hindley, WN2 2QA • MASONS ARMS - Carr Mill Road, Chadwick Green, Billinge, WN5 7TY • MILLSTONE - Wigan Lane, Swinley, WN1 2LF • THE RAVEN - Wallgate, WN1 1LD • THE ROBIN HOOD - Orrell, WN5 7AZ • ROYAL OAK - Standishgate, WN1 1XL • THE SILVER TALLY - Shevington Moor, WN6 0SQ • SIR THOMAS GERARD - Gerard Street, Ashton-inMakerfield, WN4 9AA • STOCKS TAVERN - Alder Lane, Parbold, WN8 7NN • THE VICTORIA - Haigh Road, Aspull, WN2 1YA • WAYFARER INN - Alder Lane, Parbold, WN8 7NL • THE WHITE CROW - Chorley Road, Worthington, WN1 2XL • WINDMILL HOTEL - Mill Lane, Parbold, WN8 7NW

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WIGAN CAMRA BEST NEW CASK OUTLET BIRD I’TH HAND

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igan CAMRA awarded the Best New Cask Outlet award for 2013 to the Bird I’th Hand. The Bird I’th Hand (generally known as ‘the Bird’) is a well-known landmark in the area located at the junction of Wigan Road, Liverpool Road and Market Street. The site has excellent accessibility being close to bus and rail links and has a large car park at the rear and a beer garden with a covered smoking area .

A refurbishment took place in September 2013 to broaden the appeal of the pub by giving it a cosmetic upgrade by re-decoration both externally and internally. Within the pub there are photographs of the pub in years gone by which are sure to bring back memories to many customers, plus prior to the refurbishment a sign on the outside of the pub which had these words : “In every town, the inn or tavern has a long history, often as old as the original hamlet itself. A brief history of the Bird i’th Hand, built in 1607 reveals that it was a coaching house. It is one of the oldest buildings in Hindley, hence its listed building status and boasts a haunted seat somewhere in the vault, which has reputedly been used as a morgue at some point.”

It is large traditional old multi-roomed pub with wooden beamed ceilings in the main central bar area, a rear lounge with a bar servery and TV, a Commercial Room with Sky TV and darts/games table plus a separate games room.

The pub is a great community local, serving cask ales, bar snacks, and food and offering Sky sports, weekly entertainment of a DJ on a Friday night, a quiz on a Wednesday night and free Wi-Fi. This Bird serves 2 regular beers Caledonian Bird 80/- and Theakston Mild with 1 guest beer offered to compliment these regular offerings. The pub operates the CAMRA discount scheme giving 10p off a pint of real ale on production of a valid CAMRA membership card. Food is served daily and free Cloud Wi-fi is available.

Online with Wigan CAMRA Do you know that a third of Wigan CAMRA Branch members keep in touch with happenings within the branch via email?

We send out monthly bulletins about what is going on within the real ale scene locally plus beer lists for local festivals and other ‘hot off the press’ news.

If you are a Wigan CAMRA member and do not currently receive our e-mails, please contact our Membership Secretary and let us know your e-mail address. This will only be used for internal CAMRA communications – we do not forward our e-mails list to any other organisation.

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LocAle SCHEME 2015 CHANGES ARE AFOOT

W

igan CAMRA branch adopted a LocAle scheme back in 2008 and since then we have accredited 28 of our pubs with the award.

The branch has been looking at the whole concept of LocAle awards over the last couple of months and at our July meeting made a number of decisions which are aimed at making the LocAle award more valuable as a gauge to the publican’s continued commitment to the quality of the beer served.

One of the main features of revised scheme will be that the award is an annual one and needs to be reapplied for each year. Our certificates will say LocAle 2015 and so forth and should be matched with the official window stickers for each year of the award.

There are several other major changes to our definition of LocAle and the accreditation application process which we will be announcing in more detail in the October edition of Swiggin in Wiggin.

Trading Standards

Have you ever... received a short pint? Deliberately been overcharged for your beer? Been to a pub that serves only keg beers despite advertising cask ales? Firstly let the publican know about the problem but if you don’t get a satisfactory response these matters should be reported to Trading Standards, which exists to protect the rights of consumers.

Wigan Council Trading Standards, Unity House, Westwood Park Drive, Wigan, WN3 4HE. t: 01942 827476 e: ts@wigan.gov.uk

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Join CAMRA Today

Complete the Direct Debit form and you will receive 15 months membership for the price of 12 and a fantastic discount on your membership subscription.

Alternatively you can send a cheque payable to CAMRA Ltd. with your completed form, visit www.camra.org.uk/joinus or call 01727 867201. All forms should be addressed to Membership Department, CAMRA, 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL1 4LW.

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