Chorley is a town that unexpectedly became a bit of a pub crawl hotspot, with a raft of micros opening up and the publication of an Ale Trail leaflet.
I really need to work on getting ahead of the game - the Didcot Discerning Drinkers Ale Trail?
To the side of the market was our first stop of the day at the Bob Inn.
The bar is genuinely 'micro' and is located in the stalls at the edge of the market, with plenty of undercover - but still outdoor - seating to the side.
Heck, it was cold. Perhaps I really did need that body warmer.
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| Pre-noon drinking |
Around five folks were stood next to the counter which pretty much filled it up. To the side is a basic room with a cushioned wooden bench around it and dish washer in the corner, presumably there not being enough space behind the bar for this. You could go one step further than returning your glasses here and actually stick 'em in the washer.
In a lovely building, next to the bus station, which would have benefited from a blue-sky background.
And would also benefit from some sabotaging of the dominant Chorley Fitness signage.
When the Shepherd's Hall Ale House originally opened in 2014, it was just a small micro pub housed in a one-time newsagents at number 67.
The Victoria Rooms is the bit behind the curved windows, formerly another shop, which the bar was extended into in December 2021.
The taproom was busy with locals sat around the bar blocking the view of the pump clips. But all we needed to see was something called 'Fudge!', with an exclamation mark, and we were sold.
If Fudge! didn't take your fancy (to be fair, it smelt better than it tasted) other beers covered styles to suit everyone from brweries 4Ts, Anarchy, Allendale, and Phoenix.
The Victoria Rooms came as quite a contrast to the taproom. Mrs PropUptheBar threatened not to leave her seat next to the heater for the rest of the day, but I suspect she'd have tired of the 80's soundtrack before too long: Steve Winwood, Spandau Ballet, and Tears for Fears had me feeling nostalgic.
Our onward route took us past the bus station and under the railway lines to the Malt 'n' Hops.
Uh-oh, what's going on with that chunk of wood on the corner and builders tarp where the pub signage should be?
We worried for a moment that it might not be open.
Our onward route took us past the bus station and under the railway lines to the Malt 'n' Hops.
Uh-oh, what's going on with that chunk of wood on the corner and builders tarp where the pub signage should be?
We worried for a moment that it might not be open.
No such fears as we tried the door and found a good couple of dozen folk in on a Saturday lunchtime, spread throughout the L-shaped room.
Ah, finally a proper old pub, I thought. Except I'd be wrong. This is an 1870's building which used to be a greengrocers prior to being converted to a pub in 1989.
There were nine cask ales, annoyingly in two banks of hand pumps either side of the bar. Too much choice...I eventually plumped for the Lancashire pale ale 'Off T' Mill' from Darwen brewery Hopstar.
Accompanied by a cheese & onion cob, competitively priced at £1.
As the grey clouds began to produce the rain that had been threatening all day, we made a brisk stroll back into shopping centre.
I briefly stopped to admire the Baptist Chapel converted into a record store...
I briefly stopped to admire the Baptist Chapel converted into a record store...
Before the rain drove us into Riley's for shelter.
Our second converted greengrocers in a row - this used to be called Fresh and Fruity - how did they end up closing down with such a great name?
The premises were snapped up by husband and wife team, Michael and Jules Riley, who opened this smart bar in 2021.
We'd moved up a notch here - wine list and candle on a table that we could only spend 40 minutes at as it was reserved for 3pm. The folk of Chorley were out in force to enjoy cocktails and craft beer at Riley's.
With a limited time on the table I would have been wise to pick something I could drink quickly.
Mmmm...Woodside 'Overtone' 11.5% smoked imperial stout. Doh!
An absolutely glorious stout, warming the cockles for the short walk around the corner to Ben's Tap & Bottleshop...
We were pretty much back where we started, with the Bob Inn visible across the pedestrian street from the window seat of Ben's.
This is a relatively new addition to Chorley's ale trail, having opened in March 2022.
Formerly a cafe, it's a simple rectangular room with large bar taking up the back wall and a staircase leading to a solitary silly table on the first floor next to the loos.
Ben's Brewery beers were racked up behind the bar, with 5 available alongside a guest from Deeply Vale.
Looking for something trad and at a sensible strength, I picked the enjoyable Ben's Brewery 'The Duke' 4.3% bitter and sipped it whilst enjoying a bit of Premier League footy on the big TVs.
Finally, we were moving on to a proper pub - one that appeared in the 1974 Good Beer Guide, albeit under a different name.
Previously the Market Tavern, this featured in the inaugural Good Beer Guide, although I guess it's changed a bit since then.
Just look at the bar - smart symmetrical shelving full of colourful bottles, white tiling, and staff in shirt, tie, and apron combo.
It looks every bit the trendy town pub, and yet the customers were proper pub punters, shouting at the rugby league match on TV, hanging around the doorway smoking, and delivering some 18 certificate banter whilst putting the world to rights.
The beer line-up on the bar made for a good choice - 2 from Ossett, a Reedly Hallows blonde, Stockport 'Ginger Tinge', and - my pick of the bunch - Hophurst 'Porteresque'
A sweet, milky porter from a Greater Manchester brewery, on good form.
We just had one more stop to make on the way to the train station...
The beer line-up on the bar made for a good choice - 2 from Ossett, a Reedly Hallows blonde, Stockport 'Ginger Tinge', and - my pick of the bunch - Hophurst 'Porteresque'
A sweet, milky porter from a Greater Manchester brewery, on good form.
We just had one more stop to make on the way to the train station...
I'm afraid I just couldn't get comfortable in the Ale Station, even though they delivered a cracking 80's power ballads and hair rock soundtrack including Heart 'Alone', Bonnie Tyler 'Total Eclipse of the Heart, and Europe's 'The Final Countdown'. Oh yes.
Perhaps the discomfort was down to the seats being a little too close together for my liking - not to mention the gents WC which would need users to master some nimble moves to get as many people in there as there were facilities.
Or perhaps I was disenchanted by a reduced beer choice, with many unused pumps leaving a choice of green hop ale from Merseyside brewer Rock the Boat, Hawkshead bitter, or Holt's Bitter.
But I probably wasn't comfortable because I couldn't stop watching the electronic board with train times displayed on it.
Our train was getting delayed by another minute every time I glanced at the screen.
The train came eventually and got us back to Preston in time for tea in the Continental.
I'm not really sure I did Chorley justice on this afternoon visit, but it's certainly somewhere with a great choice of beers and pubs in close proximity. And that'll do me.
I'm not really sure I did Chorley justice on this afternoon visit, but it's certainly somewhere with a great choice of beers and pubs in close proximity. And that'll do me.
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