The Olde Boar’s Head

The Olde Boar’s Head, Middleton, Lancashire M24 6UE

An ancient, leaning, half-timbered inn, dating back at least to 1632, situated at the north end of the town. While Middleton’s town centre has been extensively redeveloped, Long Street on which it stands retains a number of handsome buildings dating from the Georgian and early Victorian periods.

Entering through a low doorway, the interior lives up to the promise of the exterior, with a central bar serving a variety of different rooms. Along the front are a lounge on the left and a vault on the right, with several areas to the rear including a couple of cosy snugs with bench seating. Although it does not appear on CAMRA’s National Inventory, it retains a very traditional character, with low beams, stone-flagged floors and even a viewing panel giving a sight of the original wattle and daub.

There is a cosy beer garden at the rear, and on the right-hand side is the Sessions Room, now used as a function room, which was once the local court house. It’s a J. W. Lees tied house, offering their Bitter alongside their various seasonal beers. A range of food is available at lunchtimes. There is a spacious car park on the right-hand side, although you will have to enter your registration inside to avoid being charged, and Middleton bus station is about ten minutes’ walk away.

Despite its great historical character, it remains a down-to-earth working pub rather than a tourist showpiece. Maybe it doesn’t get the attention it deserves being situated in a workaday Lancashire town off the railway network.

The Heatons Bridge Inn

The Heatons Bridge Inn, Scarisbrick, Lancashire L40 8JG

A freestanding redbrick pub situated in the West Lancashire flatlands next to the eponymous bridge over the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. It dates from 1837 and was built as a goods office for the canal. Since the StreetView image was taken, a couple of letters have been lost from the pub name on the front wall, but in a sense this is a positive sign that the interior has not been modernised to death. The windows contain some original Tetley’s stained glass.

It has been opened out to some extent, with a central bar on the left of the entrance, but still retains a variety of separate areas. There is an alcove of bench seating at the front facing the bar, with smaller snugs on either side, and a further comfortable seating area to the rear.

In keeping with its heritage, Tetley Bitter is permanently available, alongside one guest which is likely to come from North-West independent breweries. The garden contains a World War Two concrete lookout tower next to the canal, and the pub occasionally stages displays of historic military vehicles and hosts a classic bus service.

The Black Horse

The Black Horse, Preston, Lancashire PR1 2EJ

A striking redbrick corner pub on one of Preston’s main shopping streets close to the impressive Harris Museum and Art Gallery. It was built in 1898 by Kay’s Atlas Brewery of Manchester and is now owned by Robinson’s of Stockport.

The exterior conceals an even more impressive interior which merits a full entry on CAMRA’s National Inventory. There are two comfortable snugs at the front, a central lobby with a richly decorated ceramic bar counter, and a rear alcove surrounded by bench seating with mirrors on the walls above.

It is allowed to sell a selection of guest ales alongside Robinson’s own beers. The city-centre location ensures it is busy throughout the day with a wide cross-section of customers.

The photo was taken by me in the early evening of Friday 23 August 2019.

The Scotch Piper

The Scotch Piper, Lydiate, Lancashire L31 4HD

An ancient thatched and cruck-framed pub that claims to be “the oldest inn in Lancashire”, and features on CAMRA’s National Inventory. It must originally have been in a rural location, but has now been enveloped by nondescript suburbia on the northern fringes of Liverpool. The heavily beamed interior comprises three rooms – the cosy, wood-panelled area on the left by the bar, a central one with dartboard and old fixed seating, and a more modern but still comfortable lounge at the far right end, all warmed by real fires in winter. There’s also extensive outside seating, making it a good place to go out to for a drink on a sunny summer’s day or warm evening.

On my recent visit, there were three cask beers available – Holts Two Hoots, Pendle Blond Witch, and a house beer called Piper 1320, the origin of which the barman didn’t know. No food is currently available. For many years it was a Burtonwood tied house, but is now owend by Admiral Taverns. The pub was recently badly damaged by fire, but fortunately has been restored to its former glory.

The Lion of Vienna

The Lion of Vienna, Bolton, Lancashire BL1 4PE

Yet another Samuel Smith’s pub – unlike many other pub operators, Sam’s are keen to fly the flag for proper pubs rather than knocked-through, pastel-shaded dining emporiums. This one is a converted private house on the wide, straight Chorley New Road opposite the magnificent premises of Bolton School. It takes its name from Bolton Wanderers footballer Nat Lofthouse.

The interior comprises a spacious vault at the rear with two pool tables, and a front lounge divided into two partially opened-out rooms either side of the central door, each with comfortable bench seating, a real fire, and plenty of dark wood in the decor. The standard range of Sam’s beers is available, including Old Brewery Bitter, at their usual bargain prices, and a menu of standard pub food is served at lunchtimes. There’s no TV or piped music, just a buzz of conversation from the generally more mature clientele.

The Railway Tavern

The Railway Tavern, Flixton, Lancashire M41 6NA

A long, low, whitewashed pub tucked away off the beaten track on the western side of Flixton in a location that realistically would not see any passing trade. In fact, despite having lived in this area for many years, it was only recently that I even became aware of its existence. It’s a Sam Smith’s pub which demonstrates the company’s customary respect for internal layout and fittings. Handpumped Old Brewery Bitter is available alongside their keg range, at the usual keen prices.

Much of the interior gives the impression of being little changed since the 1950s. There’s a traditional vault on the right, a small “saloon bar” with a curved wooden bar counter and a quarry-tiled floor, and a spacious lounge on the left with extensive bench seating which may in the past have been opened out from smaller rooms. It gives the impression of being popular with older regulars. No food is served.

Note that in 2024 this pub stopped serving cask beer, although in other respects it is unchanged.