Town Hall Tavern, 46-48 Victoria Square, Bolton

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The Town Hall Tavern pictured shortly before it closed in 1925. At that time it was owned by the Bromley Cross brewery, Hamer's. After the pub closed licensee William Cole went on to run the Cheetham Arms at Dunscar. Pic: Bolton Library and Museum Service.

The Town Hall Tavern stood on Howell Croft on land that was to become part of Bolton's civic centre. The pub isn't to be confused with the Town Hall Hotel which stood not too far away on Old Hall Street. 

In 1861 George Cooper and his wife Sarah were living at the premises. George was described at that time as provision dealer so it is likely that at some stage during the 1860s he decided to sell beer as well as provisions. One reason could have been the construction of the new Bolton Town Hall just across the road from George's premises. Construction began in 1866 and the new building opened in 1873. In the meantime beer became George's main line of business and the beerhouse became known as the Town Hall Tavern.

In 1875 George Cooper decided to apply for a licence to sell foreign wines. Pubs tended to be either beerhouses or they had full licences which enabled them to sell wines and spirits, but a small number of pubs sold just wine as well as beer. By the 1870s it had become more and more difficult for beerhouses to sell anything other than beer and licences to sell spirits and/or wine had become difficult to get come by. Cooper applied at the annual licensing hearing, the Brewster Sessions – one of 13 beerhouses applying for licences to sell products other than beer. All were refused by the magistrates.

George Cooper died aged 51 later that year and his widow Sarah took over the Town Hall Tavern. Mrs Cooper applied once more for a licence to sell wine at the 1880 Brewster Sessions. She stated that people often came to her house after watching concerts at the Town Hall and they wanted something to drink other than beer. Once again all applications were rejected by the magistrates.

In January 1882 there was an outbreak of smallpox at a lodging house on Howell Croft a few doors away. The inspector in charge of the case, George Southern, visited the Town Hall Tavern and warned Mrs Cooper not to allow anyone from the lodging house to enter the pub. She pointed out one man from the lodging house and police told him to leave and go home. He was also warned not to go into the Town Hall Tavern again. He replied he would not as he had quarrelled with Mrs Cooper. The following day Inspector Southern met up with the man at Wood Street and walked him to the workhouse which was situated on land now occupied by the Royal Bolton Hospital.

The Town Hall Tavern was bought by local brewer Magee Marshall but was later sold by Magee's to another local firm, J Hamer, based at the Volunteer Inn, Bromley Cross.

The building of Bolton Town Hall was the beginning of the Town Hall Tavern as licenced premises in the 1860s. However, the need for more local government offices was to mark its end. Bolton Council earmarked land on Howell Croft and Victoria Square for the construction of a new civic centre. The Town Hall Tavern was bought by the council in 1925 and demolished soon afterwards.