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Heading over to Merseyside for the Bank Holiday weekend, calling in at a number of pubs in Bolton en route, a Micropub and a Brewery Tap in Westhoughton and 3 Mixropubs in the Southport area.
Great Ale at the Vaults
My first call in Bolton was to “Great Ale at the Vaults”, around a 15 minute walk from the Railway Station. It is located in the redeveloped vaults underneath the old Market Hall (now renamed Market Place).
A choice of 3 real ales were available on the bar alongside a cider. I went with “Grey T’Ale” from Deeply Vale Brewery based in Bury. A very sessionable Golden Ale. A really great atmosphere aswell here being underground.
Olde Man & Scythe
A short walk around the corner brings me to the “Olde Man & Scythe”. Reported as the 4th oldest pub in the country dating back to around 1251. It is located near the Parish Church on Churchgate, the site of a famous Civil War execution.
Some great original features inside the pub including a beam showing the original end wall of the building from 1251. A nice cosy small bear garden “the yard” at the back of the pub.
A choice of 4 real ales and a wide range of ciders in the yearly “cider festival”. Went with a beer from local brewery Bank Top Brewery who are Bolton based. “Flat Cap” is their signature beer, an easy drinking traditional bitter.
One for the Road
A walk down to Boltons Indoor Market next. A pub in the centre of the “Lifestyle Hall” called “One for the Road”, which opened in 2014 when the market was redeveloped.
A really great atmosphere around with lots of small food outlets and communal seating in the centre. A choice of 3 real ales on here, 2 light and a dark beer. I went with “One Cascade” from local Stockport Brewery. A tasty pale ale using Cascade Hops.
Steak Out – Steaks on a Plane
Cant visit Bolton without visiting “Steak Out”, no beer is served but a unique experience of eating on a old aircraft fuselage. Located about a 12 minute walk from the last pub.
Piggy Banks
A former double glazing store which opened as a cocktail and bottle bar named “Piggy Banks”. This opened in April 2019 and is located directly opposite the Railway Station.
One cask ale on here, “Lancashire Gold” from Hopstar Brewery. A really nice beer which ive had several times in the past. The brewery being based in Darwen.
The Beer School
A short train ride to Westhoughton, and a 12 minute walk down to the main street. My first call here was to “The Beer School”. A really wam welcome here from Rachel. A well decorated and popular Micropub.
4 cask beer, 6 keg beers and a wide selection of ciders, bottles and cans to choose from. You wont be stuck for choice here. I started with “Emergency Bitter” from Malton based Brass Castle Brewery. A really easy drinking bitter.
Went onto a Plum Sour from Leeds based Wilde Child Brewery. “Purple Rain” was a delicious fruity tart sour beer.
The Brewery Tap
A minutes walk up the road brings me to “The Brewery Tap”. This opened in 2019 by Blackegde Brewery who are based in Horwich. A really modern looking pub, and a warm welcome again in here.
Lots to choose from here both on cask and keg. Started with their own sour beer here, “Behind Blue Eyes” a Blueberry Berliner Weisse, really tart and a lovely summer beer.
Finished with “Summit”, an easy drinking single hopped session beer with very subtle grapefruit and tangerine flavours.
Back on the train again this time heading from Westhougton to Southport.
Beer Den 2
The first micropub to visit in Southport is “Beer Den 2”, a bus out to the Crossens area of Southport. This opened in May 2021 in a former computer repair shop. Owned and run by The Parker Brewery.
Usually the bar would feature beers from The Parker Brewery but as the brewer has been on holiday, guest beers feature. 2 cask ales on the bar today.I went with “Stanley’s” from Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery. A delicious session pale.
Beer Den
A bus back into Southport and a 12 minute ish walk from the end of the main shopping street down to “Beer Den” which is located on Duke Street. Again owned by The Parker Brewery. The National Lawnmower Museum is nearby.
Another warm welcome in here, and a choice of 3 real ales alongside a number of keg lines. I went with “Lancaster IPA” from Lancaster Brewery. A great tasting well known beer.
The Barrel House
My very last call of the night is a short 10 minute walk from the Beer Den, following the railway line to Birkdale. “The Barrel House” opened in May 2014 and is one I have visited several times. A former newsagents, although the micropub still serves the morning newspapers.
Was fantastic chatting to owners Martin and Pam in here, and about their fantastic selection of Belgian Beers which can be seen in the photo below.
Two cask ales on the bar here, I went with “Halo – The EPA” from Morecambe based Cross Bay Brewery. A easy drinking extra pale ale.
Went into try a Belgian Sour beer (Thanks Martin!), “Bourgogne des Flandres”, a really fruity sour beer with malty notes to it. Really enjoyed this!
Micropub Adventures 