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 Railway, Bromley Cross

 

The Railway

37 Chapeltown Road, Bromley Cross, BL7 9LY

TEL: 01204 324601

This reopened in 2018 after being closed and derelict for some time. It closed again in 2022 but reopened late in 2023. It is directly across the road from the railway station and an easy walk from Jumbles Reservoir..

decor - 3

ambience - 3

service - 3

real ales - 1

features - 3

serves food

TV screens

big pub garden

toilets - 3

Score 16 out of 30

Unusual feature: in the pub garden at the back it has an ancient horse chestnut tree with a massive trunk that I estimate at 12 feet in diameter. There are a few younger ones which might be the offspring of this ancient tree.

The Pack Horse, Affetside, near Bury

 

The Pack Horse

52 Watling Street, Affetside, Bury BL8 3QW

TEL: 01204 884584

It's a restaurant rather than a pub, all the tables are set out for diners and there is no bar space just for drinkers. But it's the kind of restaurant where you might not get a table if you haven't booked. It has an upmarket menu and a very swish setting.

    It is at the highest point, 900 feet above sea level, of the Roman road that ran from Manchester to Ribchester. It was originally built as a manor house and did not become a pub until 1650. It got its name because pack horse trains travelling from Lancashire to Yorkshire frequently stopped there. 

    For a long time the skull of a 17th century farmer, George Whewell, was kept behind the bar. He was the man who executed James Stanley, the 7th Earl of Derby, in 1651 during the Civil War. Whewell is said to have volunteered for the job because James Stanley was part of the Royalist Army that overran Bolton and massacred its inhabitants. They included Whewell's family. Nobody knows how his skull came to be kept at the pub but it was there since the late 1800s, when the Butterworth family owned the pub.

    According to an article in the Bolton News it was still there in 2022. The pub apparently had a major refurb in 2023 and the skull was placed in a glass case with an account of its history inscribed on the glass.

ambience - 3

decor - 4

Refurbished only two years ago and has kept the historic features: huge timber beams and open fireplaces.

real ales - 4

service -4

Polite and attentive

features - 2

serves food

weekly quiz night

toilets - 0

The trouble was, they weren't working when I visited. The water supply to the cisterns had failed. Naturally that's an unusual occurrence but I can't review what isn't there.

Score 17 out of 30

Fabulous views over Winter Hill

The Strawberry Duck, Entwistle, Lancashire

 

The Strawberry Duck, Overshores Road, Turton, Bolton BL7 0LU

01204 852013

Out in the hills and woods north of Bolton, near Edgeworth village and across the road from Entwistle station, a combination of pub, restaurant and guesthouse.

decor - 4

tasteful, comfortable, relaxing

ambience - 1

Loud bland piped music, small children allowed to run about the bar area and barge into patrons carrying drinks.

real ale - 5

service - 1

very very slow

features - 3

serves food

accommodation

dog-friendly

toilets - 4

Score 18 out of 30

 

The Crown Hotel, Horwich

 

The Crown Hotel, 1 Chorley New Road, Howich BL6 7QJ

There has been a pub on the site since the late 18th century though the current building dates from 1886. It serves food but is still more of a pub than a restaurant pub.

ambience - 3

decor - 3

Newish in shades of brown, cream and grey. Two large dining rooms and a big space in front of the bar and a side room for drinkers.

Service - 1

Dead slow

real ale - 4

Joseph Holts and three guest ales

features - 4

Serves food with a traditional pub menu

pool table

TV

chess club on Monday evenings

toilets - 3

Score 18 out of 30

Old Original Bay Horse, Horwich

 

Old Original Bay Horse, 206 Lee Lane, Horwich BL6 7JF

ambience - 3

comfortable

decor - 3

service - 2

fast but unfriendly

real ale - 4

features - 3

Pool

darts

TV sport

toilets - 3

Score 18 out of 30