SOUTH RIBBLE SCENE

Going into 2023 and the big news from South Ribble has been the closure of CRANKSHAFT BREWERY. This bombshell came in December, with owners Haydn and Angela Williams making an announcement that Crankshaft Brewery was to cease trading at the end of the year.

The brewery and brewery tap have now both closed, with Haydn and Angela indicating that this has been necessary due to rising costs in power, ingredients, and the cost of living causing reduced sales. This is sad news for the Leylandbased brewery which has played a big part in the local real ale scene for the last six years. The achievements of Haydn and Angela were much appreciated by CAMRA Central Lancashire branch, and four years ago they were worthy winners of the branch’s prestigious George Lee Memorial Trophy award.

Going into the new year, Haydn and Angela have said that they are continuing to provide bar services at ST MARY’S COMMUNITY CENTRE on Broadfield Road in Leyland. Additionally in January there was an interesting development, with Haydn collaborating with Ryan Hayes of the Chain House Brewing Company, with them producing a West Coast IPA beer. Perhaps we haven’t heard the last of Crankshaft Brewery?

As anticipated in the last Ale Cry, the Sir Robert Peel in Walton-le-Dale has now re-opened after having been closed for the last three years. Now known as the BOBBY PEEL, the premises have been thoroughly refurbished as a modern sports bar, with live entertainment taking place each Saturday. Initial announcements had indicated that it would be a cycling-themed pub, and that it would be stocking Belgian beers plus a cask beer from Crankshaft Brewery. An interesting idea for a theme pub, but when the Bobby Peel opened its doors in November, there was not a bicycle to be seen, nor indeed any real ale.

Last year I reported that the Brig ‘n’ Barrel in Bamber Bridge had closed, with the possibility that it may be re-opening under new ownership. In November the Station Road premises did re-open as the ZEST LOUNGE & BAR, unfortunately not a bar that is selling any real ale. Elsewhere in Bamber Bridge the Casual SixtyNine Lounge (next door to the Beer Box) has been renamed the BRIG LOUNGE, but is another bar not selling any real ale.

However there is some interesting news from further along Station Road in Bamber Bridge, where the Withy Arms Group people have put in an application that the WA BAR & BISTRO premises be allowed a change of use for it to become more of a drinking establishment. Ahead of the business being opened in December 2019, they had originally wanted that this former fishing tackle shop be converted into a micropub to be called the Weavers Arms, but on a couple of occasions they had planning permission refused.

As in previous issues of Ale Cry I am featuring a particular area of South Ribble looking at the pubs and the beers that are available on a particular day. I last investigated Longton in 2019, so I thought it was about time that I had another look at the concentration of pubs and bars in the half-mile stretch of Liverpool Road in the centre of the village.

On a Saturday just before Christmas I started at the RAMS HEAD, one of four pubs in the area owned by the Green Crab Pubs Company. The restaurant room was booked for a function, but although quite busy there was plenty of room in the spacious front lounge which is effectively a sports bar with several large TV screens. There were two handpumped beers available – Timothy Taylor’s Landlord plus Wainwright Gold – interestingly two of the three beers that were available on my last survey in 2019.

A short walk and I passed THE GROTTO, the Christmas themed pop-up bar which appeared at the beginning of December. I always like to try new bars, but with no real ale available it had to be given a miss. Perhaps the owners have plans for a more permanent set up?

Crossing the road I soon reached the BLACK BULL, another large pub with plenty of seating areas to the front and rear of the serving area. On the day this was the only pub that had all its handpumps in use, with two beers available – Purity Mad Goose and Wainwright Gold

Continuing along Liverpool Road and my next port of call was the WILKINS & PYE, the micropub which was named after the two breweries that once operated in the village. Opened in 2018, it later had a lengthy period of closure following on from the Covid lockdowns. My first choice of beer was Lancaster IPA, but on being pulled through the barman did not consider it suitable for sale. This being the case I went for their other handpumped beerMoorhouses Blonde Witch.

Across the road the RED LION was closed with no lights on. I later discovered that it had failed to open on time due to them having problems with a burst pipe and a flooded cellar.

Completing my Saturday afternoon stroll and I finished up at the GOLDEN BALL OF LONGTON , the most food oriented of the pubs on this stretch of Liverpool Road. Two beers were available at the time of my visit – Timothy Taylor’s Boltmaker plus a Christmas beer from the Laine Brew Company.

Longton is a great place to visit for the real ale drinker. The pubs are all quite close together, and not too far away just off School Lane there is the LONGTON VM CLUB (only open in the evenings). This was CAMRA Central Lancashire branch’s Club of the Year in 2020, and usually has up to three changing guest beers on offer.

GORDON SMALL