12 Bolton Pub Closures in 2013

Pictured in happier times: the Cattle Market, one of 12 Bolton pubs to close in 2013.

The Bolton branch of Camra, the Campaign for Real  Ale, has published its list of Lost Pubs for2013.

No fewer than 12 pubs in the Bolton Metropolitan area closed their doors for the final time last year. 

The 12 are as follows:

Barristers of Blackrod, 359 Manchester Road, Blackrod

Cattle Market, 6-8 Orlando Street, Bolton            

Wellington Inn, 51 Bury New Road, Bolton

Park Inn, 180 – 182 Egerton Street, Farnworth   

Saddle Inn, 43 King Street, Farnworth

Victoria Tavern, 349 Chorley New Road, Horwich              

Church Inn, 79/81 Market Street, Little Lever     

Commercial Hotel, 222 Church Street, Westhoughton

Cross Guns, 25/27 Bolton Road, Westhoughton

Windmill, 112 Chorley Road, Westhoughton       

Antelope Hotel, 18 Manchester Road, Kearsley
Cross Guns, 272 Deane Road, Bolton.               

Camra says that only two of the pubs – Barristers of Blackrod and the Park – sold real ale and no doubt Camra will point to that as one of the possible reasons for closure. Why pay £3 or more for a pint of stuff you can buy for a third the price at the supermarket?

The Park is a particular shame as for many years it was a keg-only outlet owned by the old Blackburn brewery of Matthew Brown (remember them?).  

This writer can attest to both the Saddle and the Cattle Market being decent pubs in their day. The former has now been demolished while the latter had its ‘For Sale’ taken down last year but is now boarded up.

Bolton Camra holds its annual beer festival at the Ukrainian Club on Castle Street from 24-26 April 2014. Further details here.