Beer by Bus

Stagecoach 125 The Final Chapter

Back in the winter of 2019 our secretary, Gordon Small wrote an article on the 125 service between Preston and Chorley highlighting some great real ale outlets along the way, so roughly two years on I think it’s only right that we finish the journey, making our way from Chorley to Bolton

The 125 has 113 stops departing from Royal Preston Hospital Grounds, Sharoe Green and ending at Bolton Interchange. Buses run regularly from Chorley to Bolton throughout the day, both midweek and at weekends so long waits for the next bus can be avoided with ease.

The 125 from Chorley takes you through Heath Charnock, Adlington, Horwich and Doffcocker before reaching its destination at Bolton and we are truly spoilt by the choice and quality of the TIMETABLE real ale pubs close to stops along the way. This article focusses on pubs within a few minutes’ walk of the respective stops, but feel free to venture further afield in search of more.

While the variety of ale on offer undoubtedly changes regularly, on an average day alone you’re likely to find beers sourced from at least twenty-two different breweries, mainly based in the Northwest region and a choice of around fifty different beers along the route…more than enough to be going on with!

If you just fancy travelling to Chorley for the day, then feel free to use the below link to access the latest Chorley Real Ale Trail.

Stops and pubs along the way are as follows:

Yarrow Bridge

Ten minutes out of town and you’ll find yourself on the A6 heading towards Heath Charnock. The YARROW BRIDGE stop is just 50 yards from the pub, which is a Greene King pub where you’ll find up to four cask ales including their own IPA and up to three changing ales. There’s a large menu always available and a 10% discount for CAMRA members off cask ales.

CHORLEY REAL ALE TRAIL

White Horse and Cardwell Arms Stops

the Old Post Office is the newly opened Escape Brewery Tap.

Following a short stop off in Adlington just jump back on the next 125 and you’ll soon enter the town of Horwich.

For those wishing to focus on less familiar pubs found within the Bolton CAMRA area, the below link provides further details of those along the 125 route between Horwich and Doffcocker.

Departure from Bus Station, Chorley Town Centre

With time on your hands this is a great location from which to explore an eclectic mix of pubs, all within a few minutes’ walk, including the ALE STATION, SHEPHERDS’

HALL ALE HOUSE AND VICTORIA

ROOMS, SAM’S BAR, Withnell Brewery’s ARTISAN ALE HOUSE, NELIPOTS and the CROWN. Another 5 minutes along the route and you’ll have entered Heath Charnock where the WHITE HORSE and CARDWELL ARMS come in quick succession. Each has a bus stop close by bearing its name, and you can expect a variety of traditional ales on offer, typically from Sharp’s, Wainwright and Black Sheep.

The Crown, Horwich

Elephant & Castle

By this stage the pubs are coming thick and fast and just two minutes down the road you’ll find the ELEPHANT AND CASTLE in Adlington, with the SPINNER’S ARMS and OLD POST OFFICE nearby. Beers from Copper Dragon, Moorhouses, Ruddles, Sharp’s and Escape breweries are on offer; The first stop of note in Horwich is the CROWN, which is across the road from the pub. This is the first of two Joseph Holt’s pubs along the route and typically serves four of their own ales along with several from local breweries. A minute’s walk up Lee Lane will find you at the OLD ORIGINAL BAY HORSE, the BREWERY BAR (Blackedge Brewery’s Tap), TAP & CORK micro pub and the Bowling Green. Beers from local breweries such as Blackedge Brewery and Northern Monkey should be expected along with a selection from Timothy Taylor’s, Jennings, Moorhouses, Cross Bay and Joseph Holt’s. A further minute’s walk down the road towards the centre takes you past the

VICTORIA & ALBERT and TAILS & ALE (there is also a bus stop (Albert Street) if you’ve not stopped earlier). A selection of ales can be found in these two pubs, not only from Robinsons and Moorhouses but also from the Ossett/Rat breweries in Yorkshire and Escape Brewery.

Brownlow Road

This stop is only a minute down the road, and you’ll find the SADDLE INN and newly opened micropub, B33R@33 just seconds away. You’re likely to find something from the Amber Taverns range such as Banks’s Sunbeam in the Saddle, which is a keen sports TV pub and at B33R@33 there’s a couple on handpump typically from local independent breweries.

Leisure Centre

Passing through the centre and up Church Street this stop is opposite the Leisure Centre in Horwich, between the BRIDGE HOTEL and BANK TOP BREWERY ALE HOUSE. The Bridge Hotel is a fabulous old pub, recently refurbished and listed in the national inventory of regionally historic pub interiors. It has three changing cask ales, often featuring Moorhouse’s, Sharp’s Doom Bar and Wainwright whilst Bank Top Brewery’s Ale House further up the hill showcases up to nine of their own cask ales and also has a fine selection of real ciders.

Georges Lane, Bottom O’Th’ Moor

Close by is the JOLLY CROFTERS, a friendly food pub currently serving just one cask ale, Wainwright.

Bottom O’Th’ Moor, Blundell Arms

BLUNDELL ARMS has two regular ales, Greene King IPA and Timothy Taylor Landlord as well as up to two changing beers. It is an imposing pub, which is Grade II listed, dates back to the early 1700s and has previously been used as a courthouse, farm and mortuary.

Bottom o’th Moor, Walker Fold Road

The next stop brings you to BOB’S SMITHY, a free house, which serves three regular beers, Bank Top Flat Cap, Wainwright and Timothy Taylor Boltmaker along with up to three changing guest ales.

Doffcocker, Doffcocker Inn

DOFFCOCKER INN is our second Joseph Holt’s pub, a traditional Victorian property dating back to 1901 and has two regular beers, Holt’s Bitter & Holt’s IPA; you may also find some real cider. Across the road at the HOPE & ANCHOR aka the “Little Cocker”, you’ll find three regular beers, Tetley Bitter, Timothy Taylor Landlord and Wainwright with one changing beer.

Merlin Grove, Doffcocker

A few minutes down the road is BUNBURY’S micro, thirty seconds walk towards Bolton from the stop with its three handpumps serving a range of ales generally from local breweries such as Rivington, Holy Well and Northern Monkey, as well as an offering of real cider.

Bolton Interchange, Bolton

There are numerous real ale pubs within easy walking distance of the interchange including the SWEET GREEN TAVERN (two changing ales), Wetherspoon’s SPINNING MULE (two regular ales Greene King Abbot and Ruddles Best Bitter along with seven changing ales), NORTHERN WAY (one changing ale) and the NORTHERN MONKEY BREWERY BAR (serving four of the brewery’s own cask ales).

If of course you fancy sampling a wider range of what the town has to offer, please use the link below for a town centre ale trail BOLTON ALE prepared by colleagues TRAILS from Bolton CAMRA. The photos for this article were taken on a cold and wet winter’s day and probably reflect what you’re likely to experience when making this trip… thank goodness Stagecoach don’t operate an open-top 125 service!