Bolton, Ye Olde Man And Scythe and the Churchgate

 

Ye Olde Man And Scythe

6-8 Churchgate, Bolton BL1 1HL

TEL: 01204 559060

This was first mentioned in a market charter in 1251 though all that is left from that era is the vaulted cellars and some of the timber framing as the pub was rebuilt in 1636. One of its claims to fame is that James Stanley, the 7th Earl of Derby, is said to have spent the night there prior to his execution in the square outside in 1651.  (see the photo below).  Stanley fought in the English Civil War for the Royalist (losing) side. He continued to give military support to the son of Charles I, who fought on for a while after his father's execution, but was eventually captured and convicted of treason. He was executed in Bolton because of his involvement in the Bolton Massacre of 1644.

    Like all ancient pubs Ye Olde Man And Scythe is haunted by a ghost or three. In fact, as many as 53 spirits are said to have haunted it. They include victims of the Bolton Massacre, James Stanley himself, both outside in the square, where he appears headless, and in the pub cellar. There is also a crying barmaid, a phantom dog, and a mischievous woman called Jenny who pulls in women's clothes. In 2014 the pub manager came downstairs one morning to find glass smashed in the bar. There was no sign of a break in but when he checked the CCTV there was a ghostly image on the footage. 

Ambience - 3

Decor - 4

As you'd expect of an old pub. lots of dark timber beams, a slightly uneven stone floor and a black and cream colour scheme. Comfortable padded seats and benches. Piped music but not loud enough to be intrusive.

Service - 3

Friendly

Real ales - 3

Features - 4

dog friendly

TV screen

Sells its own T shirts

In a glass fronted cupboard in one of the side rooms it has the chair in which James Stanley sat immediately before his execution.

Toilets - 4

Score 21 out of 30

Churchgate

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The Churchgate

11-13 Churchgate, Bolton BL1 1HU

TEL: 07754 667992

The building dates from 1772 and was recorded as a pub called The Bear's Paw in 1778. It was renamed The Crown And Thistle in 1779 and then given its current name in 1806. It was recorded as being a Tetley pub called The Golden Lion in 1982. Its name was changed back again at an unknown date. It was completely refurbed in 2017 and now has a contemporary interior, with two sections. There is a pool table and the entrance to a partly covered small beer garden at the back.

Ambience - 1

rough and rowdy, loud piped music

Decor - 3

Newish in pale browns. Comfortable padded seating.

Service - 4

fast and friendly

real ales - none

features - 3

Many TV screens

pool table

serves food

toilets - 4

Perfect except short on handwash

Score 15 out of 30

The Raven, Wigan

 

The Raven

5 Wallgate, Wigan WN1 1LD

TEL: 01942 239764

The current building was built in 1904 to replace a previous Raven pub building, which had been trading since 1854. It was made a grade II listed building in 1997 and renovated in 2012.

decor - 4

wood and teal colours, green tiled walls and other original features.

Comfortable seating.

ambience - 3

buzzy

service -5

Fast and courteous

real ales - 3

features - 3

dartboard

TV

hidden beer garden

toilet - 3

Score 26 out of 30

Why the beer garden is considered hidden I don't know, you can find it easily enough when you go into the pub, it's straight through in a cobbled yard at the back. It's rather nice, has hanging baskets with real flowers as well as a lot of painted ones.

 

 

The Moon Under Water, Wigan

 

The Moon Under Water

5-7a Market Street, Wigan WN1 1PE

TEL: 01942 323437

Since this is a Wetherspoons pub you know there are some features you can always expect:  plenty of choices of real ale, a British pub food menu, and child friendly up to a certain time of night, usually 9pm at the latest. Also like all Wetherspoons pubs it respects and displays the history of the pub and the locality. However, although there are texts and photographs round the walls about women miners in Wigan, the Leeds-Liverpool canal (which passes close to the town centre), and Wigan Casino, there isn't much about the history of the building itself. The pub website says the current pub is from two combined buildings. One was a bank opened in 1890 and closed in 1957, that subsequently was turned into a shoe shop. The other is a 1960s building that was built on the site of the old Cross Keys pub. Other internet sources give this same information but nowhere can I find the name of the former bank and I can't find out when the two buildings were turned into a Wetherspoons pub. It might have been in the 1990s but I have only found one hint. There might be something in the Land Registry records, for anybody curious enough to pay them the £3 to get the property records.

Ambience - 3

spacious, lively

decor - 4

Brown and teal, comfortable padded chairs

Service - 3

Bit slow

Real ale - 5

Features - 2

serves food

child friendly

No darts, pool or other pub games but in my experience Wetherspoons pubs never have these.

Toilets - 3

There is level access at the front door and an accessible toilet on the same level.

Score 20 out of 30

The Wiend Bar, Wigan

The Wiend Bar

11 The Wiend, Wigan WN1 1PF

TEL: 01942 824794

Decor - 2

drab. Main seating is down three steps with no handrail.

Ambience - 2

Loud canned music

Service - 2

Dead slow

Real ales - 2

Features - 1

TV screen

Toilets - 3

These are up steep stairs and so not easy to access

Score 12 out of 30

 

The Fox, Todmorden

 

The Fox

5 Water Street, Todmorden OL14 5AB

This used to be called simply The Pub and was originally in smaller premises next to the market before it moved to its present location. This looks like it was once two shop premises. The previous owners retired in 2024 and the new owners renamed it and redecorated it.

Decor - 5

Very new in muted autumn colours.

Comfortable padded chairs

Ambience - 5

very relaxing

Service - 3

real ales - 4

Features - 2

dog friendly (they sell dog treats on the bar and keep dog water bowls on the floor)

board games

toilets - 4

Score 23 out of 30

The Bevi, Marple

(photo soon)

The Bevi

24 Market Street, Marple SK6 7AD

TEL: 0161 427 1483

Not a traditional pub but a shop premises that has been converted into a bar. 

Not a bad place but I have to mention from the start that the disabled access is execrable. The front door is level with the pavement but the toilets are up very steep stairs with narrow treads that you can't place the whole of your foot on and with only one loose handrail. When I was there I saw even able bodied people cling to the handrail to haul themselves up. For that reason I have decided never to make a return visit. One should be able to use the loo safely.

Decor - 4 

Interestingly, mainly in black with one wall covered in vinyl record sleeves. Some padded, comfortable benches.

Ambience - 4

Convivial

Service - 4

Fast and welcoming

real ales - 2 guest ales

features - 3 

serves pizza

pool

darts

toilets - 3

Acceptable, apart from the dangerously steep stairs!

Score 20 out of 30

 

The Midland, Marple Bridge

 

The Midland

26 Brabyns Brow, Marple Bridge SK6 5DT

0161 427 2370

This is really an upmarket restaurant rather than a pub but there is space for people who want to drop in for just a drink. It started life as a hotel about 1870, just five years after the railway line through Marple, running from Manchester Piccadilly through Hyde to New Mills, was completed. I surmise it was built to cater for railway passengers. It was newly refurbed in spring 2026.

Decor - 4

Comfortable seating with furnishings and walls in a variety of colours. It doesn't look so impressive from the outside at the front but the inside is rather lovely.

Ambience - 3

Swish

Service - 5

Faultless

Real ale - 2

Features - 3

serves food, and has a pleasant outdoor dining area next to the river Goyt.

child friendly

dog friendly (pooches allowed in one room)

Toilets - 4

Score 21 out of 30

The Norfolk Arms, Marple Bridge

 

The Norfolk Arms

2Town Street, Marple Bridge, SK6 5DS

TEL: 0161 427 8090

This pub dates from 1792 and is a free house.

Ambience- 3 

cheerful

Decor - 4

Mostly wood and wood colours. Open plan, part of the ceiling of one room is covered in different beer mats.

Service -4

prompt and friendly

real ale - 5

features - 1

serves food

toilet - 3

Score 20 out of 30

Close to Marple train station and a bus route with buses running between Marple and Stockport.

The Royal Scot, Marple Bridge

 

The Royal Scot

48 Town Street, Marple Bridge, SK6 5AA

I can't do a full review of this because when I went there, in the third week of August 2026, it was being used for somebody's wake and there were more than 100 people inside and easily a further 100 out in the street. So I didn't attempt to get a drink. I went in the side door and checked out the ladies and had a quick shufty at the inside. I'll do a complete review if I visit Marple Bridge again.

    However, I did find out that there has been a pub on the site for more than 150 years. The original pub was called The Railway; it's about a quarter mile from Marple railway station. According to the brewery website it was the first ever pub purchased by Robinsons, who still own it. They demolished the original pub building in the 1930s and rebuilt and renamed it. It had a major refurb in 2019.

decor- 4

Mostly green colours with plants and (plastic) greenery hanging from the beams, gives the impression of being in a wood. Comfortable seating.

ambience- 4

Pleasant and realxing.

Service - not known

Real ale - not known, though Robinsons Unicorn is classed as one and I assume they serve it since Robinsons owns the pub.

Features - 5

Serves food

Live music

dog friendly

child friendly

TV screens 

toilets - 3

The Royal Oak, High Lane, Cheshire

 

The Royal Oak

Buxton Road, High Lane, Cheshire SK6 8AY

TEL: 01663 309284

Right on the A6 road to Buxton, buses 199 and 394 pass by it, and if you walk about 80 yards from it in the Manchester direction you come to the Middlewood Way. Follow that for half a mile in the Poynton and Macclesfield direction and you will come to Middlewood railway station.

decor - 4

appealing, comfortable seats

ambience - 4

very friendly

real ales - 2

Had Wainwrights gold when I was there at the end of May 2026

service - 4

very welcoming and prompt

features - 4

pub food

dog friendly (dogs allowed in one room)

child friendly

pub games: darts, pool, board games

toilets - 4

clean and fully supplied

Score 22 out of 30

It should perhaps get an extra point for the location. It's on the edge of the Peak District, near Lyme Park and the Middlewood Way 11-mile trail, the route of an old railway line,  that runs from Macclesfield to Marple