Preston Parade

Alot of you may have noticed that the WINCKLEY STREET ALE HOUSE has been closed for a while. Well, the long wait for its reopening will soon be over. It was supposed to have been sold to the bar manager, Jonny, last February, but has not reopened since. Apparently, some remediation work was necessary before the business could be transferred over. This has now been sorted out, so we hear. The place will have to be re-fitted and restocked etc., but we can look forward to it reopening, hopefully, before Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas, the WINTER LODGE, on the corner of Friargate and Heatley St. has opened again for the run up to the festive season. Specializing in German beers and gluhwein, it proved very popular last year and did actually sell a real ale in the form of Moorhouse’s White Witch. We would expect it to do so again this year.

Just around the corner from there, the NEW BRITANNIA has had a major refit with a £138,000 refurbishment. While retaining many of its original features, it has been given a facelift with a more modern feel. One of the more controversial moves was to take out the pool table, which was not received with universal approval. In its place is an illuminated digital dartboard which is proving very popular. Money was also spent on improving the cellar. Real ale will still feature and on a recent visit Ringwood 49er was on sale, with some other beer waiting to be put on the bar.

A couple of issues back we told you of plans by Ryan Hayes of CHAIN HOUSE BREWERY to open premises in an alleyway between Friargate and Market Street where he would brew and sell his beer that he currently produces in his garage in New Longton. Ryan still has plans to open a microbrewery and tap room in Preston but has moved the location to a former joinery workshop on Market Street West, close to the previous site. It is thought that the new site is more likely to suit the needs of a microbrewery, being a single-storey building and having a more prominent frontage on Market Street West. The new proposal, which includes office space and storage as well as the microbrewery and tap room, states that it will be a benefit to the area by upgrading a tired looking building and adding to the variety of high quality hospitality venues around the Friargate and Market St. areas. Let us hope that Preston Council, which passed his previous proposals, will quickly approve these latest plans and we can enjoy what would be a welcome addition to Preston’s attractions.

One proposal for a micropub, however, has hit the buffers with Preston Council refusing permission to turn a neighbourhood newsagent into a bar. Planners have thrown out the proposals, saying it would have an adverse impact on people living nearby. The owners of the shop on Broadway in Fulwood wanted to open it as a drinking establishment with seating outside. These proposals did not go down well with local residents and several objections were raised, which were taken up by local councillors. Fears of noise and unruly behaviour were stated by planners as part of the reason that the location was considered unsuitable.

Good news at the MARKET TAVERN. Gavin has been accepted onto the SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers) guest list, which means he will be able to get a much greater range of guest beers on the bar in addition to beers that he can get off the Heineken guest list. Don’t forget that he offers a 10% discount on production of a current CAMRA membership card, making it great value for some interesting beers from around the country.

The PARKSIDE CAFE on Blackpool Rd. near Lane Ends has opened for business, but there does not seem to be any sign of real ale being sold there yet, even though it is owned by the same people that have

the Crafty Beggars Ale House in Fulwood. It is open from 9am until 3 pm daily for breakfasts and lunches, but some objections

have been raised about their future plans for the bar/ bistro part. Let us hope that they have success in getting plans approved for their vision.

BARNEY’S (ex piano bar) in Church St. is up for sale. It does not currently sell real ale, but has done in the past. It is being offered for £475,000 by the owners, having had a major refit costing £100,000 a couple of years ago. With the multi-storey housing development going on down Pole Street, it was anticipated that there would be a resurgence of that area of Church Street. It could happen, for at one time that area of town was a thriving one with pubs such as the Lamb and the George being very popular places to enjoy a drink.

During recent months we were delighted to present a couple of awards to pubs in the Preston area. NIKO was announced as our Cider Pub of the Year in the spring, but for a variety of reasons, the presentation was delayed until the autumn. The TAP END at Ashton is our Best New Real Ale Outlet for 2022, and in this case, we managed to present the award to licensee Simon in more timely fashion.

Finally, the GUILD ALE HOUSE has introduced The Dirty Dozen Club, whereby by joining, you receive a card on which you get a stamp every time you buy a pint and then you get your thirteenth pint for free. It costs £5 to join, but after this, after filling up a card, you get a new card for free ad infinitum. If you go in there regularly, you soon get back your initial investment and every thirteenth is a free pint. I have had several free pints already. PAUL RILEY