Preston Parade

In the last issue we told you of the plans for a real ale bar in the former bank on the corner of Moor Lane opposite the Adelphi pub. We were looking forward to seeing real ales there to show the management of the Adelphi that it was a mistake to spend £350,000 on a refurb and not have real ale on. I am sorry to tell you that Preston City Council have destroyed all plans for this by not granting planning permission for the venture. The owners of the BEER BOX micro in Bamber Bridge had a vision of opening a unique

venue in the attractive unused building in the University quarter to be called the BIER BOX. They agreed terms with the owners and commenced their planning application in June 2021.

Preston Council have now rejected their request for change of use to a drinking establishment on the advice of environmental health. Beer Box have decided not to appeal the decision as they do not believe they would be allowed to realise their vision at this location. They still want to create a Bier Box in Preston, but only if they can create the venue they want. Environmental health!!! Near the Adelphi which has loud music blaring out from it frequently! On the new ‘square’ where the council has plans to hold loud events! What does this tell us about the City of Preston’s ambitions to be a proper city? Maybe they should have a word with neighbouring Chorley Council or South Ribble where councillors there seem to know the value of places like the Bier Box and appreciate the multitude of micropubs that they have welcomed to their local scene, really putting them on the map.

One new venture that is coming to fruition and should be open by the time you read this is HOPWOODS TAP HOUSE. Sited on Church Street opposite the Miller Arcade, it is the brainchild of the Baluga Bar’s Managing Director, Nick Carter. With plans to be open seven days a week from 10am to 4am, the licence application hints at live music and performance of dance at these hours too. Signage indicates that 30 craft ales and beers on tap will be available with four handpumps having been seen whilst the interior was under construction. The building was originally the site of Woods Tobacco Manufacturers and during the renovations, taking it back to what it was like internally 100 year ago, a lot of treasures have been uncovered which might be displayed in the bar. Let us hope that it becomes a welcome addition to Preston’s real ale scene unlike the newly opened SLUG AND LETTUCE in the building that was lately Yates and originally Addison’s Wine Lodge. As anticipated, no real ale is on sale in this clone of many a Slug and Lettuce pub in towns and cities all over the country. It reminds me of the fashion several years ago to have an ‘Irish Bar’ in every town. How many O’Neill’s do you see these days? There is one in Liverpool and Manchester, but they used to be everywhere. Fashions come and go. I remember the old Addisons and Turks Head, with its docks and schooners of Australian white and Red Biddy. One thing that they had was a rail just back from the bar which you had to queue up along to get served, ensuring you were served in your proper turn. None of this where a crowded bar is asked ‘who’s next?’ Everybody knew, because you were in an orderly line. No arguments!

While it is great to see microbars springing up all over the place, bringing us more choice of beers than we have ever had, it is sad to see traditional pubs slipping away. Near the Guild Tavern on Lancaster Rd. is the GOLDEN CROSS pub that could be under threat. This 160-year-old former Bass pub has been listed for offers in the region of £325,000 as an investment opportunity with potential for nine apartments on the top three floors. The pub does not currently sell real ale, but it could. I can remember when this pub sold Bass. When I first started going in pubs, this was one of several pubs in the centre of town that had upstairs bars. This one was called Sullys. The upstairs room in the Black Horse was called Peter’s Bar. The Stanley had the Knowsley Room. Perhaps the busiest was the upstairs at the Boar’s Head on Friargate, the Murrayfield Lounge. It was busier than the actual downstairs pub and was always crowded at weekends. The Boar’s Head was a Tetley pub, and although it had not sold real ale for some time, it was a sad day when it closed in 1983 and was converted into a betting shop. The Salvation Army always came round selling their magazines War Cry and Young Soldier. Another pub that is now very threatened is the PLUNGINGTON HOTEL in Fulwood. A community action group has been set up to try to ensure that Admiral Taverns, the owners of the pub, do not go ahead with plans to build houses on the site. However, the managers put in by Admiral

are said to have left and real ale wasn’t on sale on a recent visit. Let us hope the action group can come up with something to ensure this vital asset to this area of Fulwood can survive and thrive. We have lost too many pubs in Fulwood (Withy Trees, Sumners, Garrison) and we must not lose another.

News from farther afield is that the CORPORATION ARMS in Longridge is up for let. Fleurets, the specialist agency is marketing the pub/restaurant with a guide rent of £75,000. Over at Goosnargh, news that the YE HORNS INN will be opening in mid-March after extensive renovation by owners J. Townley, who are also building a number of luxury homes and cottages around the site. A Michelin starred chef, Sean Wrest, will be in charge of the restaurant there when it reopens. His fiancée, Sam Haigh, will be general manager. Let us hope that she will keep up the tradition of selling an interesting range real ales behind the bar.

Finally, Gavin, manager at the MARKET TAVERN in Preston is hoping to get Cask Marque accreditation soon. He says that once he gets this, it will allow him to put a greater range of real ales from the SIBA list on the bar. The pub does have guest ales at the moment, but he is tied to the Heineken list, and recently he has found that the same beers keep on coming round more frequently. He wants to be able to offer a more exciting range to us. We hope he is successful. PAUL RILEY